yourself to Lord
Lilburne's tender mercies; remember, he is an admirable player."

"Nay," answered Vaudemont, "I want to know this man: I have reasons,
which alone induce me to enter his house. I can afford to venture
something, because I wish to see if I can gain something for one dear to
me. And for the rest (he muttered)--I know him too well not to be on
my guard." With that he joined Lord Lilburne's group, and accepted the
invitation to the card-table. At supper, Vaudemont conversed more than
was habitual to him; he especially addressed himself to his host, and
listened, with great attention, to Lilburne's caustic comments upon
every topic successively started. And whether it was the art of De
Vaudemont, or from an interest that Lord Lilburne took in studying
what was to him a new character,--or whether that, both men excelling
peculiarly in all masculine accomplishments, their conversation was of
a nature that was more attractive to themselves than to others; it so
happened that they were still talking while the daylight already peered
through the window-curtains.

"And I have outstayed all your guests," said De Vaudemont, glancing
round the emptied room.

"It is the best compliment you could pay me. Another night we can
enliven our tete-a-tete with ecarte; though at your age, and with your
appearance, I am surprised, Monsieur de Vaudemont, that you are fond of
play: I should have thought that it was not in a pack of cards that you
looked for hearts. But perhaps you are blaze betimes of the beau sexe."

"Yet your lordship's devotion to it is, perhaps, as great now as ever?"

"Mine?--no, not as ever. To different ages different degrees. At your
age I wooed; at mine I purchase--the better plan of the two: it does not
take up half so much time."

"Your marriage, I think, Lord Lilburne, was not blessed with children.
Perhaps sometimes you feel the want of them?"

"If I did, I could have them by the dozen. Other ladies have been more
generous in that department than the late Lady Lilburne, Heaven rest
her!"

"And," said Vaudemont, fixing his eyes with some earnestness on his
host, "if you were really persuaded that you had a child, or perhaps a
grandchild--the mother one whom you loved in your first youth--a
child affectionate, beautiful, and especially needing your care and
protection, would you not suffer that child, though illegitimate, to
supply to you the want of filial affection?"

"Filial affection, m