wise abundantly moral. He was a most exemplary father. He fed the
poor, and was loved by them. He scorned a base action. And I have no
doubt that Mr. Thurtell, or the late lamented Mr. Greenacre, in similar
circumstances, would have acted like the worthy Simon Gambouge.

There was but one blot upon his character--he hated Mrs. Gam. worse than
ever. As he grew more benevolent, she grew more virulent: when he went
to plays, she went to Bible societies, and vice versa: in fact, she led
him such a life as Xantippe led Socrates, or as a dog leads a cat in
the same kitchen. With all his fortune--for, as may be supposed, Simon
prospered in all worldly things--he was the most miserable dog in the
whole city of Paris. Only in the point of drinking did he and Mrs. Simon
agree; and for many years, and during a considerable number of hours
in each day, he thus dissipated, partially, his domestic chagrin.
O philosophy! we may talk of thee: but, except at the bottom of the
winecup, where thou liest like truth in a well, where shall we find
thee?

He lived so long, and in his worldly matters prospered so much, there
was so little sign of devilment in the accomplishment of his wishes,
and the increase of his prosperity, that Simon, at the end of six years,
began to doubt whether he had made any such bargain at all, as that
which we have described at the commencement of this history. He had
grown, as we said, very pious and moral. He went regularly to mass, and
had a confessor into the bargain. He resolved, therefore, to consult
that reverend gentleman, and to lay before him the whole matter.

"I am inclined to think, holy sir," said Gambouge, after he had
concluded his history, and shown how, in some miraculous way, all his
desires were accomplished, "that, after all, this demon was no other
than the creation of my own brain, heated by the effects of that bottle
of wine, the cause of my crime and my prosperity."

The confessor agreed with him, and they walked out of church comfortably
together, and entered afterwards a cafe, where they sat down to refresh
themselves after the fatigues of their devotion.

A respectable old gentleman, with a number of orders at his buttonhole,
presently entered the room, and sauntered up to the marble table, before
which reposed Simon and his clerical friend. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he
said, as he took a place opposite them, and began reading the papers of
the day.

"Bah!" said he, at last,--"sont-