d well,
they looked well, they comported themselves as though life went ever
pleasantly with them; and in their joyous air and easy bearing one might
read the traits of a set well adapted to be the friends and companions
of a young prince, himself passionately devoted to pleasure, and
reckless in regard to its price.

I am now speaking of long ago, and have no hesitation in giving the real
names of those to whom I allude. One was a captain in the navy, called
Payne; the second was a young colonel in the foot-guards, Conway; and
the third was an Irishman named O'Kelly, whom they called the Count or
the Chevalier, about town, from what cause or with what pretension I
never ascertained.

Even in my own narrow sphere of observation it was clear to me that this
last exercised a great influence over his companions. The tone of
his voice, his air, his every gesture, bespoke a certain degree of
dictation, to which the others seemed to lend a willing obedience.
It was just that amount of superiority which a greater buoyancy of
character confers,--a higher grade of vitality some would call it,--but
which never fails through life to make itself felt and acknowledged.
The three kept a bachelor house at Kensington, whose fame ran a close
rivalry with that of the more celebrated Carlton House. O'Kelly lived
below, Conway occupied the drawing-room story, and Payne the third
floor; and with one or other of these all the great characters of the
Opposition were constant guests. Here, amidst brilliant sallies of
wit and loud bursts of laughter, the tactics of party were planned and
conned over. While songs went round and toasts were cheered, the subtle
schemes of politics were discussed and determined on; and many a sudden
diversion of debate that seemed the accident of the moment took its
origin in some suggestion that arose in these wild orgies. The Prince
himself was a frequent guest, since the character of these meetings
allowed of many persons being admitted to his society whose birth and
position might not have warranted their being received at his own table;
and here also were many presented to him whose station could not have
claimed a more formal introduction.

It was rumored that these same meetings were wild and desperate orgies,
in which every outrage on morality was practised, and that the spirit of
libertinism raged without control or hindrance. I have not of myself any
means of judging how far this statement might be cor