reaten people of property and station. Around every
rich man is a wall--better not run your head against it."

"But I swear solemnly," cried the knave, with an emphasis so startling
that it carried with it the appearance of truth, "that the marriage did
take place."

"And I say, no less solemnly, that any one who swears it in a court of
law shall be prosecuted for perjury! Bah! you are a sorry rogue, after
all!"

And with an air of supreme and half-compassionate contempt, Lord
Lilburne turned away and stirred the fire. Captain Smith muttered
and fumbled a moment with his gloves, then shrugged his shoulders and
sneaked out.

That night Lord Lilburne again received his friends, and amongst
his guests came Vaudemont. Lilburne was one who liked the study of
character, especially the character of men wrestling against the world.
Wholly free from every species of ambition, he seemed to reconcile
himself to his apathy by examining into the disquietude, the
mortification, the heart's wear and tear, which are the lot of the
ambitious. Like the spider in his hole, he watched with hungry pleasure
the flies struggling in the web; through whose slimy labyrinth he walked
with an easy safety. Perhaps one reason why he loved gaming was less
from the joy of winning than the philosophical complacency with which he
feasted on the emotions of those who lost; always serene, and, except
in debauch, always passionless,--Majendie, tracing the experiments of
science in the agonies of some tortured dog, could not be more rapt
in the science, and more indifferent to the dog, than Lord Lilburne,
ruining a victim, in the analysis of human passions,--stoical in the
writhings of the wretch whom he tranquilly dissected. He wished to win
money of Vaudemont--to ruin this man, who presumed to be more generous
than other people--to see a bold adventurer submitted to the wheel
of the Fortune which reigns in a pack of cards;--and all, of course,
without the least hate to the man whom he then saw for the first time.
On the contrary, he felt a respect for Vaudemont. Like most worldly men,
Lord Lilburne was prepossessed in favour of those who seek to rise in
life: and like men who have excelled in manly and athletic exercises,
he was also prepossessed in favour of those who appeared fitted for the
same success.

Liancourt took aside his friend, as Lord Lilburne was talking with his
other guests:--

"I need not caution you, who never play, not to commit