THE MONK. 97 



session of his wife's fortune, which had become absolutely necessary 

 to enable him to continue in his habits of lavish extravagance, his 

 true character began to develope itself. He was mean, selfish and 

 morose, without one spark of generosity in his soul, without one 

 noble feeling in his breast. He was implacable in his hatred ; hol- 

 low and insincere in his friendships. He was the victim of furious 

 and vindictive passions, which often involved him in private quarrels 

 not unfrequently ending in scenes of violence and blood. He was 

 alike feared and despised by all who knew him. With this man 

 Paulina found, but too late, that she had intrusted her happiness. 

 At first he shewed her the greatest consideration, and was all kind- 

 ness and smiles ; for his object was to deceive her, as regarded his 

 real character, until he had induced her, under various pretences, to 

 place the whole of her property in his hands. This was all he de- 

 sired, and he had now no motive for acting with duplicity. 

 The mask was, therefore, thrown off. By degrees, he neglected his 

 wife. His behaviour became cold and heartless ; and, at last, he 

 treated her with cruelty and scorn. His house was the resort of 

 the profligate and abandoned. He was false to his promises, and a 

 traitor to his marriage vow. For sometime, the proud spirit of 

 Paulina refused to complain ; and, when at length she did remon- 

 strate, the only answer she met with w^as insult and derision. It 

 stung her almost to madness ; whilst he, the black-hearted villain, 

 saw her, whom he had taken from innocence and joy, plunged deep 

 in the pit of misery and despair. Yet the fiend knew no compunc- 

 tion ; the demon felt no pity, no remorse. He wished his victim 

 dead, in order that nothing might cross the broad path of vice he had 

 determined to pursue. 



" Having occasion to take a journey to Paris, the count determined 

 that his wife should accompany him, although from delicate health, 

 she was little able to bear the fatigue. He took the road over the 

 Great St. Bernard ; it was on this occasion, that he and his retinue 

 were detained at the Hospice, as before mentioned. 



*' Thus far," continued the monk, " I have given you an account of 

 the individuals who so strangely met here, under such peculiar circum- 

 stances — and who for some days partook together of our hospitality. 

 I must now proceed to relate briefly the incidents that occurred du- 

 ring their stay, and describe the scenes of which I became a witness. 

 At this time, there was in the monastery a monk who had joined the 

 fraternity about two years before. He had ever kept aloof from all 

 strangers, and as much as possible from the brethren. He appeared 



VOL. X., NO. XXVIII. 13 



