."

To find out about this girl's fortune was then his first object. As
for family, his own rank was enough for both. The matter must be done
quickly. The London season over, England would be pouring its myriads of
talking, gossiping travellers over the Continent, and then he should be
discussed, probably avoided and shunned too.

Even already certain unmistakable signs of coolness announced themselves
amongst the men of his acquaintance.

George Onslow avoided play when in his company. Treviliani, one of Lady
Hester's chief danglers, and the patron of the Turf in Tuscany, would
n't even allude to a horse before him. Prince Midchekoff went further,
and actually, save on rare occasions, omitted him from his dinner
list. Now, although Norwood averred that he detested _petit jeu_, hated
spooney talk about racing, and dreaded the tiresome display of a
"Tartar feast," these were all threatening indications, and he saw their
meaning. He would willingly have fastened upon some one man, fixed a
quarrel on him, and shot him. He had more than once in life adopted this
policy with success; but here it would have been inapplicable, and the
public opinion he sought to bring on his own side would have been only
more inevitably arrayed against him.

"In what a mess does the want of money involve a man!" thought he, as
he lay before the half-dying embers of the wood fire. "Had I won my bets
on 'Chanticleer,' or had I but backed 'Amontillado,' how different had
my position been to-day! That the simple change of one name for another
in my betting-book the mere hazard of a choice, of a horse, too should
influence a man's whole life, is a pretty fair instance of what the
world is! Had I 'come right,' I should now be the favored guest of some
noble duke, shooting his grace's pheasants, drinking his Burgundy, and
flirting with his daughters. Fortune willed it otherwise, and here I
am, actually plotting a match with a nameless girl to rescue myself from
utter ruin. Three weeks ago I would not have believed that this could
happen; and who can tell what another three weeks may bring forth?
perhaps, already, there is mischief brewing. What if my Lady's refusal
to receive this evening may have some signification in it? Haggerstone
is too courteous by half, and Jekyl has never called upon me since my
arrival!" He laughed ironically as he said this, and added, "It is a
bold game, after all, for them to play! Reprisals to two of them, at
least m