--i. e., that the synonym of "Aspasia,"
which serves so often to designate in journalistic literature these
Free Lances of life, were more suitable in artistic and intellectual
similarity, and that, when the Zu-Zu and her sisterhood plunge their
white arms elbow-deep into so many fortunes, and rule the world right
and left as they do, they could also sound their H's properly, and knew
a little orthography, if they could not be changed into such queens of
grace, of intellect, of sovereign mind and splendid wit as were their
prototypes when she whose name they debase held her rule in the City of
the Violet Crown, and gathered about her Phidias the divine, haughty
and eloquent Antipho, the gay Crates, the subtle Protagorus, Cratinus so
acrid and yet so jovial, Damon of the silver lyre, and the great poets
who are poets for all time. Author and artist, noble and soldier, court
the Zu-Zu order now; but it must be confessed that the Hellenic idols
were of a more exalted type than are the Hyde Park goddesses!

However, the Zu-Zu was the rage, and spent Bertie's money, when he got
any, just as her willful sovereignty fancied, and Rake rode on now with
his master's note, bearing no very good will to her; for Rake had very
strong prejudices, and none stronger than against these fair pillagers
who went about seeking whom they should devour, and laughing at the
wholesale ruin they wrought while the sentimentalists babbled in "Social
Science" of "pearls lost" and "innocence betrayed."

"A girl that used to eat tripe and red herring in a six-pair pack, and
dance for a shilling a night in gauze, coming it so grand that she'll
only eat asparagus in March, and drink the best Brands with her
truffles! Why, she ain't worth sixpence thrown away on her, unless it's
worth while to hear how hard she can swear at you!" averred Rake, in his
eloquence; and he was undoubtedly right for that matter; but then--the
Zu-Zu was the rage, and if ever she should be sold up, great ladies
would crowd to her sale and buy with eager curiosity at high prices her
most trumpery pots of pomatum, her most flimsy gew-gaws of marqueterie!

Rake had seen a good deal of men and manners, and, in his own opinion at
least, was "up to every dodge on the cross" that this iniquitous world
could unfold. A bright, lithe, animated, vigorous, yellow-haired, and
sturdy fellow; seemingly with a dash of the Celt in him that made him
vivacious and peppery; Mr. Rake polished his w