He would most faithfully give me the name and address of this or that particular tempter of his fidelity, always adding--"As to whether the rascal sells good things or bad our Lady only knows, but truly he gave me thirty francs to secure your excellency's good-will.

Though for all that I would not recommend him if your excellency knows of an honester man!" Among other distinctions which my wealth forced upon me, were the lavish attentions of match-making mothers.

The black spectacles which I always wore, were not repulsive to these diplomatic dames--on the contrary, some of them assured me they were most becoming, so anxious were they to secure me as a son-in-law.

Fair girls in their teens, blushing and ingenuous, were artfully introduced to me--or, I SHOULD say, thrust forward like slaves in a market for my inspection--though, to do them justice, they were remarkably shrewd and sharp-witted for their tender years.

Young as they were, they were keenly alive to the importance of making a good match--and no doubt the pretty innocents laid many dainty schemes in their own minds for liberty and enjoyment when one or the other of them should become the Countess Oliva and fool the old black-spectacled husband to her heart's content.