y much indeed.'

'You are extremely kind,' said Captain Armine. 'But really I much regret
that your lordship should have had all this trouble.'

'Oh! what is trouble under such circumstances!' replied his lordship. 'I
cannot pardon myself for being so stupid as not reaching you yesterday.
I never can excuse myself for the inconvenience you have experienced.'

Ferdinand bowed, but was so perplexed that he could not say a word.

'I hope, my dear Armine,' said his lordship, advancing rather slowly,
putting his arm within that of Ferdinand, and then walking up and down
the room together, 'I hope you will act at this moment towards me as I
would towards you, were our respective situations changed.'

Ferdinand bowed, but said nothing.

'Money, you know, my good fellow,' continued Lord Montfort, 'is a
disagreeable thing to talk about; but there are circumstances which
should deprive such conversation between us of any awkwardness which
otherwise might arise.'

'I am not aware of them, my lord,' said Ferdinand, 'though your good
feelings command my gratitude.'

'I think, upon reflection, we shall find that there are some,' said Lord
Montfort. 'For the moment I will only hope that you will esteem those
good feelings, and which, on my part, I am anxious should ripen into
sincere and intimate friendship, as sufficient authority for my placing
your affairs in general in that state that they may in future
never deprive your family and friends of society necessary to their
happiness.'

'My lord, I am sure that adversity has assumed a graceful hue with me,
for it has confirmed my most amiable views of human nature. I shall not
attempt to express what I feel towards your lordship for this generous
goodness, but I will say I am profoundly impressed with it; not the
less, because I cannot avail myself in the slightest degree of your
offer.'

'You are too much a man of the world, I am sure, my dear Armine, to
be offended by my frankness. I shall, therefore, speak without fear of
misconception. It does appear to me that the offer which I have made you
is worthy of a little more consideration. You see, my dear friend, that
you have placed yourself in such a situation that however you may act
the result cannot be one completely satisfactory. The course you should
pursue, therefore, as, indeed, all conduct in this world should be, is a
matter of nice calculation. Have you well considered the consequences of
your rushing upon ruin?