FRANCE. 239 



my resolutions very quick, and executed 

 them with equal celerity j and it is to this 

 natural difpofition that I owe my efcape 

 from utter ruin. Had I not been quick in 

 my refolve, I might have protracted my 

 elegant fyftem of living by means of credit, 

 and found myfelf, at the end of it, not only 

 without a fortune, but with a load of debts. 

 This was not the cafe ; for, as foon as I 

 found that my courfe of life muft certainly 

 change, I determined to afk the Duke de 



for a poft, to fupport me in a better 



degree than my private fortune. This 

 nobleman had always been my beft friend, 

 and from office he was beft able to ferve 

 me. I (hall never forget the coldnefs with 

 which he received the news of my necefii- 

 ties : he gave me a muffling anAver j and 

 from that moment I was never admitted at 

 his houfe. Stung to the quick at this un- 

 expected treatment, 1 abhorred the idea of 

 a fecond requeft. I could not think of 

 going from one to the other with the fame 

 tale living as a dependent, inftead of a 

 uiend, and lingering with hope that was to 

 be difappointed at lad, I renounced all my 

 great acquaintance in a moment; and 



fpending 



