e is
capital. How are you, my dear fellow? Quite well? Fitzwarrene, I did
that for you: your business is all right. Ah! my good Massey, _mon cher,
mon brave_, Anderson will let you have that horse. And what is doing
here? Is there any fun? Fitzwarrene, let me introduce you to my friend
Captain Armine:' (in a lower tone) 'excellent _garcon!_ You will like
him very much. We have been all dining at Bond's.'

'A good dinner?'

'Of course a good dinner. I should like to see a man who would give me a
bad dinner: that would be a _betise_,--to ask me to dine, and then give
me a bad dinner.'

'I say, Mirabel,' exclaimed a young man, 'have you seen Horace
Poppington about the match?'

'It is arranged; 'tis the day after to-morrow, at nine o'clock.'

'Well, I bet on you, you know.'

'Of course you bet on me. Would you think of betting on that good Pop,
with that gun? Pah! _Eh! bien!_ I shall go in the next room.' And the
Count walked away, followed by Mr. Bevil.

Ferdinand remained talking for some time with Lord Fitzwarrene. By
degrees the great saloon had become somewhat thinner: some had stolen
away to the House, where a division was expected; quiet men, who just
looked in after dinner, had retired; and the play-men were engaged in
the contiguous apartments. Mr. Bond Sharpe approached Ferdinand, and
Lord Fitzwarrene took this opportunity of withdrawing.

'I believe you never play, Captain Armine,' said Mr. Bond Sharpe.

'Never,' said Ferdinand.

'You are quite right.'

'I am rather surprised at your being of that opinion,' said Ferdinand,
with a smile.

Mr. Bond Sharpe shrugged his shoulders. 'There will always be votaries
enough,' said Mr. Bond Sharpe, 'whatever may be my opinion.'

'This is a magnificent establishment of yours,' said Ferdinand.

'Yes; it is a very magnificent establishment. I have spared no expense
to produce the most perfect thing of the kind in Europe; and it is the
most perfect thing of the kind. I am confident that no noble in any
country has an establishment better appointed. I despatched an agent to
the Continent to procure this furniture: his commission had no limit,
and he was absent two years. My cook was with Charles X.; the cellar is
the most choice and considerable that was ever collected. I take a pride
in the thing, but I lose money by it.'

'Indeed!'

'I have made a fortune; there is no doubt of that; but I did not make it
here.'

'It is a great thing to make a fortune,'