e to himself, "that may be
the best way of winding up a bankrupt concern."

Our old friend Lady Eustace, in these days, lived in a very small
house in a very small street bordering upon May Fair; but the street,
though very small, and having disagreeable relations with a mews,
still had an air of fashion about it. And with her lived the widow,
Mrs. Leslie, who had introduced her to Mrs. Dick Roby, and through
Mrs. Roby to Ferdinand Lopez. Lady Eustace was in the enjoyment of a
handsome income, as I hope that some of my readers may remember,--and
this income, during the last year or two, she had learned to foster,
if not with much discretion, at any rate with great zeal. During
her short life she had had many aspirations. Love, poetry, sport,
religion, fashion, Bohemianism had all been tried; but in each crisis
there had been a certain care for wealth which had saved her from the
folly of squandering what she had won by her early energies in the
pursuit of her then prevailing passion. She had given her money to no
lover, had not lost it on race-courses, or in building churches;--nor
even had she materially damaged her resources by servants and
equipages. At the present time she was still young, and still
pretty,--though her hair and complexion took rather more time than
in the days when she won Sir Florian Eustace. She still liked a
lover,--or perhaps two,--though she had thoroughly convinced herself
that a lover may be bought too dear. She could still ride a horse,
though hunting regularly was too expensive for her. She could
talk religion if she could find herself close to a well-got-up
clergyman,--being quite indifferent as to the denomination of the
religion. But perhaps a wild dash for a time into fast vulgarity was
what in her heart of hearts she liked best,--only that it was so
difficult to enjoy that pleasure without risk of losing everything.
And then, together with these passions, and perhaps above them all,
there had lately sprung up in the heart of Lady Eustace a desire to
multiply her means by successful speculation. This was the friend
with whom Lopez had lately become intimate, and by whose aid he hoped
to extricate himself from some of his difficulties.

Poor as he was he had contrived to bribe Mrs. Leslie by handsome
presents out of Bond Street;--for, as he still lived in Manchester
Square, and was the undoubted son-in-law of Mr. Wharton, his credit
was not altogether gone. In the giving of these gifts