In the gripe of affliction, his heart swells with the
pride of virtue; it can even look down with pity on the man whose
cruelty has wrung it almost to bursting. You are, I fancy, a friend
of Mr. Mountford's. Come nearer, and I'll tell you, for, short as
my story is, I can hardly command breath enough for a recital. The
son of Count Respino (I started, as if I had trod on a viper) has
long had a criminal passion for my wife. This her prudence had
concealed from me; but he had lately the boldness to declare it to
myself. He promised me affluence in exchange for honour, and
threatened misery as its attendant if I kept it. I treated him with
the contempt he deserved; the consequence was, that he hired a
couple of bravoes (for I am persuaded they acted under his
direction), who attempted to assassinate me in the street; but I
made such a defence as obliged them to fly, after having given me
two or three stabs, none of which, however, were mortal. But his
revenge was not thus to be disappointed. In the little dealings of
my trade I had contracted some debts, of which he had made himself
master for my ruin. I was confined here at his suit, when not yet
recovered from the wounds I had received; the dear woman, and these
two boys, followed me, that we might starve together; but Providence
interposed, and sent Mr.
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