anticipating my wishes before they had time to ripen to maturity; and I cannot but confess, that they several times accomplished their designs as perfectly as they could wish. I returned involuntarily their kindness, as if enchanted. They succeeded to make me more unreserved; and if not the few hours, in which I was not in their company, had weakened the impressions of the rest, I should scarcely have been able to avoid an intoxication which would have ruined me for ever.
"Amongst the young men by whom I was surrounded, one distinguished himself particularly. He was of a most beautiful form, animated with a very dangerous fire, of polished manners, and an insinuating disposition, which rendered him pliable to all my wishes. He seemed to claim my favour in a more particular manner than the rest, depended entirely upon my looks, and was happy or unhappy as my humour changed. Never have the wiles of the most cunning seductionbeen
