I now related to him without reserve, what had happened at the top of the stairs, Instead of being shocked at the account, he was quite enraptured with the honor and sincerity of his friend.
—"O my second self!" exclaimed he with enthusiasm, "art thou really a man? art thou really my friend? or is my happiness a mere illusion?"
—"My love is reality. Your Carlos detests ingratitude. Oft have you found me weak and urresolute, but treacherous—never!"
We now agreed to try one more gentle remedy with the countess. His heart was quite averse to using harsh means, though an expedient of such a Kind, firmly practised at first, might probably have been productive of the best consequences. The assignation fixed for the next night, afforded me the best opportunity of making a declaration to Caroline, and the count left it to my eloquence to bestow it as strong and forcible as I possibly could. I insisted on his being a secret witness of our discourse, to which he made
