ross at me and without hesitation said,
accompanying his remark with a curious smile, for which I could not at
all account:--"I think you will agree with me that the limitations of
the fool are the birth gifts of the wise!"

Not knowing what reply to make to this singular assertion, I wisely held
my tongue. This brought about a change in his demeanour; he rose from
his seat, and came across to where I sat. Seating himself in a chair
directly opposite me, he folded his hands in his lap, after the manner
of a demure old spinster, and, having looked at me earnestly, said with
an almost indescribable sweetness of tone:--

"I think you will allow, Mr. Hatteras, that half the world is born for
the other half to prey upon!"

For a moment I was too much astonished to speak; how on earth had he
become aware of my name? I stumbled out some sort of reply, which
evidently did not impress him very much, for he began again:--

"Our friend who has just left us will most certainly be one of those
preyed upon. I pity him because he will not have the smallest grain of
pleasure in his life. You, Mr. Hatteras, on the other hand, will,
unwittingly, be in the other camp. Circumstances will arrange that for
you. Some have, of course, no desire to prey; but necessity forces it on
them. Yourself, for instance. Some only prey when they are quite sure
there will be no manner of risk. Our German friend who played the
previous game is an example. Others, again, never lose an opportunity.
Candidly speaking, to which class should you imagine I belong?"

He smiled as he put the question, and, his thin lips parting, I could
just catch the glitter of the short teeth with which his mouth was
furnished. For the third time since I had made his acquaintance I did
not know which way to answer. However, I made a shot and said something.

"I really know nothing about you," I answered. "But from your kindness
in giving our artist friend a game, and now in allowing me the benefit
of your conversation, I should say you only prey upon your fellow-men
when dire extremity drives you to it."

"And you would be wrong. I am of the last class I mentioned. There is
only one sport of any interest to me in life, and that is the
opportunity of making capital out of my fellow humans. You see, I am
candid with you, Mr. Hatteras!"

"Pray excuse me. But you know my name! As I have never, to my knowledge,
set eyes on you before, would you mind telling me how you became