BOOK VI. Εἴποις ἄν, ὡς ὁ χρυσὸς ἐκ νικᾷ τάδε Perchance you say that gold's the arch-exceller, κεῖνο δ ̓ οὐκ ἀνασχετόν Εἴκειν ὁδοῦ χαλῶντα τοῖς κακίοισιν.—Ibid., line 646. 'Tis not to be endured, To yield our trodden path and turn aside, Giving our place to knaves. BOOK VI. 66 CHAPTER I. L'adresse et l'artifice ont passé dans mon cœur, Qu'on a sous cet habit et d'esprit et de ruse !"-REGNARD. It was a fine morning in July, when a gentleman, who had arrived in town the night before-after an absence from England of several years-walked slowly and musingly up that superb thoroughfare which connects the Regent's Park with St. James's. He was a man who, with great powers of mind, had wasted his youth in a wandering vagabond kind of life, but who had worn away the love of pleasure, and begun to awaken to a sense of ambition. am, "It is astonishing how this city is improved," said he to himself. 66 Everything gets on in this world with a little energy and bustle and everybody as well as everything. My old cronies, fellows not half so clever as I are all doing well. There's Tom Stevens, my very fag at Eton-snivelling little dog he was too!-just made undersecretary of state. Pearson, whose longs and shorts I always wrote, is now head-master to the human longs and shorts of a public school-editing Greek plays, and booked for a bishopric. Collier, I see, by the papers, is leading his circuit and Ernest Maltravers (but he had some talent!) has made a name in the world. Here am I, worth them all put together, who have done nothing but spend half my little fortune in spite of all my economy. Egad, this must have an end. I must look to the main chance; and yet, just when I want his help the most, my worthy uncle thinks fit to marry again. Humph-I'm too good for this world." While thus musing, the soliloquist came in direct personal contact with a tall gentleman, who carried his head very high in the air, and did not appear to see that he had nearly thrown our abstracted philosopher off his legs. "Zounds, sir! what do you mean!" cried the latter. "I beg your par" began the other, meekly, when his arm was seized, and the injured man exclaimed, "Bless me, sir, is it indeed you whom I see?" "The same; and how fares it, my dear uncle? I did not know you were in London. I only arrived last night. How well you are looking !" 66 Why, yes, Heaven be praised, I am pretty well." "And happy in your new ties? You must present me to Mrs. Templeton.' "Ehem," said Mr. Templeton, clearing his throat, and with a slight but embarrassed smile, "I never thought I should marry again." "L'homme propose et Dieu dispose," observed Lumley Ferrers; for it was he. 66 Gently, my dear nephew," replied Mr. Templeton, gravely; "those phrases are somewhat sacrilegious; I am an old-fashioned person, you know." "Ten thousand apologies." "One apology will suffice; these hyperboles of phrase are almost sinful." "Confounded old prig!" thought Ferrers; but he bowed sanctimoniously. "My dear uncle, I have been a wild fellow in my day; but with years comes reflection; and, under your guidance, if I may hope for it, I trust to grow a wiser and a better man." "It is well, Lumley," returned the uncle; "and I am very glad to see you returned to your own country. Will you dine with me to-morrow? I am living near Fulham. You had better bring your carpet-bag, and stay with me some days; you will be heartily welcome, especially if you can shift without a foreign servant. I have a great compassion for papists, but" "Oh, my dear uncle, do not fear; I am not rich enough to have a foreign servant, and have not travelled over three quarters of the globe without learning that it is possible to dispense with a valet." 66 "As to being rich enough," observed Mr. Templeton, with a calculating air, seven hundred and ninety-five pounds ten shillings a-year will allow a man to keep two servants, if he pleases; but I am glad to find you economical, at all events. We meet to-morrow, then, at six o'clock." "Au revoir-I mean, God bless you.' "Tiresome old gentleman that," muttered Ferrers, "and not so cordial as formerly; perhaps his wife is enceinte, and he is going to do me the injustice of having another heir. I must look to this; for without riches I had better go back and live au cinquième at Paris." With this conclusion Lumley quickened his pace, and soon arrived in Seamore Place. In a few moments more he was in the library well stored with books, and decorated with marble busts and images from the studios of Canova and Thorwaldsen. "My master, sir, will be down immediately," said the servant who admitted him; and Ferrers threw himself on a sofa, and contemplated the apartment with an air halfenvious and half cynical. Presently the door opened, and "My dear Ferrers!" "Well, mon cher, how are you?" were the salutations hastily exchanged. 66 After the first sentences of inquiry, gratulation, and welcome, had cleared the way for more general conversation, "Well, Maltravers," said Ferrers, so here we are together again, and after a lapse of so many years! both older, certainly; and you, I suppose, wiser, At all events, people think you so; and that's all that's important in the question. Why, man, you are looking as young as ever, only a little paler and thinner: but look at me; I am not very much past thirty, and I am almost an old man; bald |