he had beat the bush
all around among the young birds, leaving several of them wounded on the
ground--you understand this sort of thing--he took to the older ones,
and set them polishing up their feathers. And having set several very
respectable families by the ears, and created a terrible flutter among a
number of married dames--he was an adept in this sort of diplomacy, you
see--it was discovered that one very distinguished Mrs. Constance,
leader of fashion to the St. Cecilia, (and on that account on no very
good terms with the vulgar world, that was forever getting up scandal to
hurl at the society that would not permit it to soil, with its common
muslin, the fragrant atmosphere of its satin and tulle), had been
carrying on a villanous intrigue--yes, Madam! villanous intrigue! I said
discovered: the fact was, this gallant Baronet, with one servant and no
establishment, was feted and fooled for a month, until he came to the
very natural and sensible conclusion, that we were all snobbs--yes,
snobbs of the very worst kind. But there was no one who fawned over and
flattered the vanity of this vain man more than the husband of Mrs.
Constance. This poor man idolized his wife, whom he regarded as the very
diamond light of purity, nor ever mistrusted that the Baronet's
attentions were bestowed with any other than the best of motives.
Indeed, he held it extremely condescending on the part of the Baronet to
thus honor the family with his presence.

"And the Baronet, you see, with that folly so characteristic of
Baronets, was so flushed with his success in this little intrigue with
Madame Constance--the affair was too good for him to keep!--that he went
all over town showing her letters. Such nice letters as they were--brim
full of repentance, love, and appointments. The Baronet read them to Mr.
Barrows, laughing mischievously, and saying what a fool the woman must
be. Mr. Barrows couldn't keep it from Mrs. Barrows, Mrs. Barrows let the
cat out of the bag to Mrs. Simpson, and Mrs. Simpson would let Mr.
Simpson have no peace till he got on the soft side of the Baronet, and,
what was not a difficult matter, got two of the letters for her to have
a peep into. Mrs. Simpson having feasted her eyes on the two Mr. Simpson
got of the Baronet, and being exceedingly fond of such wares as they
contained, must needs--albeit, in strict confidence--whisper it to Mrs.
Fountain, who was a very fashionable lady, but unfortunately had a head
ve