and made her escape. The god of love protected her, secured her flight, and directed her course towards the metropolis.
She arrived exactly at the time when Nadir experienced his sad disgrace, which rendered him still dearer to her. She determined to continue in town until she could find out her lover; but all her researches proved fruitless.
One day as Nadir was crossing a solitary walk he descried a female seated on a bench of turf, and who appeared plunged in deep reverie. He approached her without being able to discover her features, accosted, under the most frivolous pretexts, all who passed near her, till at last he recognised her to be Elma.
His first idea prompted him to accost her, but curiosity and vanity, which so frequently misguide us contrary to our real interest, suggested the thought of trying whether the aspect of the adorable Adonis should not eclipse the distant remote image of the once candid Nadir. Compliments, declarations, indifference, rage, all that may be calculated to awaken tenderness, or provoke jealousy, is put in practice, but with not the least success. Elma remains inflexible. Ah! Nadir, with one single word you might have made her happy, whereas. But become the sport of a wild error, are you still deserving of appreciating and enjoying real happiness?
An elderly woman approaching Elma, whispered something in her ear, and they soon after withdrew together. Nadir piqued at his ill success, thought not of following them, till such time as they were gone a great distance, and entirely out of sight.
A thousand new triumphs soon afforded him consolation, and made him forget what he considered as an affront. Tired, in some respect, of his high reputation, he endeavoured to persuade himself that he was much to be envied, when he was informed all at once, that an extravagant nymph had forsaken him for a favourite of Plutus; that another belle, who thought he had neglected her, had just stabbed herself, after having exposed all his infidelity; that a third, incensed at his inconstancy, had bribed his cook; that a jealous husband had procured bravos to murder him; and that many disappointed lovers contended with each other who should have the honour first of running him through.
The intelligence was more than sufficient to induce our hero to renounce the hazardous career he had chosen. He had no time to lose he knew; he therefore hastened to carry off his most precious effects, and the lock of Elma’s hair; he threw the two caskets into the fire, made his escape through a private back door, and sought an obscure asylum.
There he was at leisure to enquire of himself of what use had been to him the fatal present that had been granted him in consequence only of his inconsiderate desires. He even was engaged for a time in reflection that would have induced any other besides himself to return the book to Alzor, and to sue for the restoration of Elma to his embrace.
But after having hesitated for some time, Nadir, however, drew a very different event from those that had lately occurred. “Wherefore have I been miserable?” said he to himself. “Because I had not chosen a situation in life that might have made me otherwise. I could only shine in academical assemblies, or in voluptuous boudoirs; whilst, whenever I chanced to meet with men of great property, I always found that gold served them as a substitute for accomplishments and merit. Is it not in behalf, and for the sake of the rich, that wisdom occasionally forgets itself, and that justice even will slumber? The whole of nature pays a tribute to the rich: to gratify the rich, does not the poet sit up all night by the light of a half replenished lamp; the mariner brave the stormy seas, and the pale miner dig the bowels of his mother earth? The rich man is every thing: men, therefore, use craft, and submit to cringe with a view of obtaining riches. When, by pronouncing a single word, I may become rich; wherefore should I hesitate?”—Opulence! repeated Nadir at three different times. He had scarcely uttered the word when an individual, whose features were entirely unknown to him, came forward, and addressing him in the most respectful manner, said:—“My Lord, I have just been paying the price of the rich mansion that you approved of.” Next presenting his hand to support the amazed Nadir, he ushered him into an elegant car,
