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Actuated by his resentment at the trap thus laid for him, Randal was about to disclaim altogether the disinterested and absurd affection laid to his charge, when it occurred to him that, by so doing, he might mortally offend the Italian, since the cunning never forgive those who refuse to be duped by them, and it might still be conducive to his interest to preserve intimate and familiar terms with Riccabocca; therefore, subduing his first impulse, he exclaimed,

He was later than usual at the House that evening, and he looked pale and fatigued. But he had to speak, and he spoke well. In spite of all his Machiavellian wisdom, Dr. Riccabocca had been foiled in his attempt to seduce Leonard Fairfield into his service, even though he succeeded in partially winning over the widow to his views. For to her he represented the worldly advantages of the thing.

"Ah," said Riccabocca, for so, obeying his own request, we will yet call the sage, "ah, I early taught that young man the great lesson inculcated by Helvetius. 'All our errors arise from our ignorance or our passions. Without ignorance and without passions, we should be serene, all-penetrating intelligences."

"My dear Alphonso!" said the wife, looking up from the waistband to which she was attaching a neat mother-o'-pearl button. She said no more; it was the sharpest rebuke she was in the custom of administering to her husband's cynical and odious observations. Riccabocca lighted his pipe with a thread paper, gave three great puffs, and resumed,

"But I see a more formidable disputant for my conqueror to encounter is coming into the field, one whose profession it is to substitute some other romance for that of camp and siege." "Our friend Leonard," said Riccabocca, turning his eye also towards the window.

Put them on when you go to your relations: it is astonishing what a difference it makes in the ideas people form of us, according as our coats are cut one way or another. I should not be presentable in London thus; and nothing is more true than that a tailor is often the making of a man." "The shirts, too, are very good holland," said Mrs. Riccabocca, about to open the knapsack.

Things are dear in England. Will this suffice?" And Riccabocca extended a five- pound note. Jackeymo, we have seen, was more familiar with his master than we formal English permit our domestics to be with us; but in his familiarity he was usually respectful. This time, however, respect deserted him. "The padrone is mad!" he exclaimed; "he would fling away his whole fortune if I would let him.

Still, even thus bereft, the watch was much more in character with the giver than the receiver, and was as little suited to Leonard as would have been the red silk umbrella. "It is old-fashioned," said Mrs. Riccabocca; "but it goes better than any clock in the county. I really think it will last to the end of the world."

This mixed nature in an uncultivated peasant's breast interested Riccabocca, who, though long secluded from the commerce of mankind, still looked upon man as the most various and entertaining volume which philosophical research can explore.

"The priests want you to turn heretic?" "Worse than that!" said the philosopher. "Worse than that! O Padrone! for shame!" "Don't be a fool, but pull off my pantaloons they want me never to wear THESE again!" "Never to wear what?" exclaimed Jackeymo, staring outright at his master's long legs in their linen drawers, "never to wear " "The breeches," said Riccabocca, laconically.