"The story which you have related of that young gentleman," said
he, "bears a very strong resemblance to the fate of a Spanish
nobleman, as it was communicated to me by one of his own intimate
friends at Paris. The Countess d'Alvarez died immediately after
the birth of a son, and the husband surviving her but three years,
the child was left sole heir to the honours and estate, under the
guardianship of his uncle, who had a small fortune and a great many
children. This inhuman relation, coveting the wealth of his infant
ward, formed a design against the life of the helpless orphan,
and trusted the execution of it to his valet-de-chambre, who was
tempted to undertake the murder by the promise of a considerable
reward. He accordingly stabbed the boy with a knife in three different
places, on the right side of his neck; but, as he was not used to
such barbarous attempts, his hand failed in the performance; and
he was seized with such remorse, that, perceiving the wounds were
not mortal, he carried the hapless victim to the house of a surgeon,
by whose care they were healed; and, in the meantime, that he might
not forfeit his recompense, found means to persuade his employer,
that his orders were performed.
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