re a gambler or not. I make a rule always to leave off when I have
won a certain sum--or even before, if the chances of my game fluctuate.
There is the difficulty; it appears very foolish not to follow up luck,
but the fact is, fortune is so capricious, that if you trust her more
than an hour, she will desert you. This is my mode of play, and with me
it answers; but it does not follow that it would answer with another.
But it is very late, or rather, very early--I wish you a good-night."

Chapter LIII

I become principal instead of second in a duel, and risk my own
and another's life, my own and others' happiness and peace of
mind, because I have been punished as I deserved.

After Captain Atkinson had left me, I stated to Timothy what had passed.
"And do you think you will have to fight a duel, sir?" cried Timothy
with alarm.

"There is no doubt of it," replied I.

"You never will find your father, sir, if you go on this way," said
Timothy, as if to divert my attention from such a purpose.

"Not in this world, perhaps, Tim; perhaps I may be sent the right road
by a bullet, and find him in the next."

"Do you think your father, if dead, has gone to heaven?"

"I hope so, Timothy."

"Then what chance have you of meeting him, if you go out of the world
attempting the life of your old friend?"

"That is what you call a poser, my dear Timothy, but I cannot help
myself; this I can safely say, that I have no animosity against Mr
Harcourt--at least, not sufficient to have any wish to take away his
life."

"Well, that's something, to be sure; but do you know, Japhet, I'm not
quite sure you hit the right road when you set up for a gentleman."

"No, Timothy, no man can be in the right road who deceives; I have been
all wrong; and I am afraid I am going from worse to worse: but I cannot
moralise, I must go to sleep, and forget everything if I can."

The next morning, about eleven o'clock, a Mr Cotgrave called upon me on
the part of Harcourt. I referred him to Captain Atkinson, and he bowed
and quitted the room. Captain Atkinson soon called; he had remained at
home expecting the message, and had made every arrangement with the
second. He stayed with me the whole day; the Major's pistols were
examined and approved of; we dined, drank freely, and he afterwards
proposed that I should accompany him to one of the hells, as they are
called. This I refused, as I had some arrangements to make; and as so