ities, which to the ignorance of the
herd seem more valuable than coin of a more important amount. Blinded
as we are by prejudice, we not only mistake but prefer decencies to
moralities; and, like the inhabitants of Cos, when offered the choice of
two statues of the same goddess, we choose, not that which is the most
beautiful, but that which is the most dressed.

Accustomed easily to dupe mankind, Crauford soon grew to despise them;
and from justifying roguery by his own interest, he now justified it by
the folly of others; and as no wretch is so unredeemed as to be without
excuse to himself, Crauford actually persuaded his reason that he was
vicious upon principle, and a rascal on a system of morality. But why
the desire of this man, so consummately worldly and heartless, for an
intimacy with the impoverished and powerless student? This question is
easily answered. In the first place, during Crauford's acquaintance with
Glendower abroad, the latter had often, though innocently, galled the
vanity and self-pride of the parvenu affecting the aristocrat, and in
poverty the parvenu was anxious to retaliate. But this desire would
probably have passed away after he had satisfied his curiosity, or
gloated his spite, by one or two insights into Glendower's home,--for
Crauford, though at times a malicious, was not a vindictive, man,--had
it not been for a much more powerful object which afterwards occurred to
him. In an extensive scheme of fraud, which for many years this man had
carried on and which for secrecy and boldness was almost unequalled, it
had of late become necessary to his safety to have a partner, or rather
tool. A man of education, talent, and courage was indispensable, and
Crauford had resolved that Glendower should be that man. With the
supreme confidence in his own powers which long success had given him;
with a sovereign contempt for, or rather disbelief in, human integrity;
and with a thorough conviction that the bribe to him was the bribe with
all, and that none would on any account be poor if they had the offer
to be rich,--Crauford did not bestow a moment's consideration upon
the difficulty of his task, or conceive that in the nature and mind of
Glendower there could exist any obstacle to his design.

Men addicted to calculation are accustomed to suppose those employed in
the same mental pursuit arrive, or ought to arrive, at the same final
conclusion. Now, looking upon Glendower as a philosopher, Craufor