hand, I delivered myself up to painful and
intense meditation. From this I was roused by some one placing himself
on the bench near me and addressing me thus:--"Pray, sir, if you will
excuse me, who was the person whom you were looking for just now?
Perhaps I can give you the information you want. If I can, you will be
very welcome to it." I fixed my eyes with some eagerness on the person
that spoke. He was a young man, expensively and fashionably dressed,
whose mien was considerably prepossessing, and whose countenance bespoke
some portion of discernment. I described to him the man whom I sought.
"I am in search of the same man myself," said he, "but I expect to meet
him here. He may lodge elsewhere, but he promised to meet me here at
half after nine. I have no doubt he will fulfil his promise, so that you
will meet the gentleman."

I was highly gratified by this information, and thanked my informant
with some degree of warmth. My gratitude he did not notice, but
continued: "In order to beguile expectation, I have ordered supper;
will you do me the favour to partake with me, unless indeed you have
supped already?" I was obliged, somewhat awkwardly, to decline his
invitation, conscious as I was that the means of payment were not in my
power. He continued, however, to urge my compliance till at length it
was, though reluctantly, yielded. My chief motive was the certainty of
seeing Capper.

My new acquaintance was exceedingly conversible, but his conversation
was chiefly characterized by frankness and good-humour. My reserve
gradually diminished, and I ventured to inform him, in general terms, of
my former condition and present views. He listened to my details with
seeming attention, and commented on them with some judiciousness. His
statements, however, tended to discourage me from remaining in the city.

Meanwhile the hour passed and Capper did not appear. I noticed this
circumstance to him with no little solicitude. He said that possibly he
might have forgotten or neglected his engagement. His affair was not of
the highest importance, and might be readily postponed to a future
opportunity. He perceived that my vivacity was greatly damped by this
intelligence. He importuned me to disclose the cause. He made himself
very merry with my distress, when it was at length discovered. As to the
expense of supper, I had partaken of it at his invitation; he therefore
should of course be charged with it. As to lodging, he had a