AFRICA, 25 
former marriage. AlLamed of the imbecile 
part he acted in his houfe, my prefence ap- 
peared to einbarrals him. Now and then, 
however, he ventured to beftow upon me a 
fmile of kindnefs ; but it was always by ftealth, 
and in a way that plainly indicated to me his 
fear of being obferved by his wife. 
He was born in Gerrnany, and I fpoke his 
language. To relieve his anxiety, as well as 
from refped to his charader as mafler of the 
houfe, I wiflied to treat him as of fome irn- 
portance in the converfation, and I afked him 
in German various queftions refpeding his 
country, the time in which he had quitted it, 
the circumftances which had brought him to 
Africa, and other rnatters that might be in- 
terefting to him. He appeared fenfible of my 
fittention, and an expreffion of joy fpread it- 
felf over his countenance ; but his wife, afraid, 
perhaps, either that he was talking of her, or 
that he received more amufement than fiie 
wifhed, interrupted our difcourfe to make me 
enter into a converfation about France. She 
pretended to be a "French woman by defcent. 
Her mother, flie fald, was a native of Provence, 
and fhe had herfelf, though bora in Africa, 
G 3 beei^ 
