will have done the most justifiable thing in the world."
"Pish, man!" said Clifford, peevishly; "none of thy sophisms, and sneers!"
"By the soul of Sir Edward Coke, I am serious!—but look you, my friend, this is not a matter where it is convenient to have a tender-footed conscience. You see these fellows on the ground!—all d—d clever, and so forth; but you and I are of a different order. I have had a classical education, seen the world, and mixed in decent society; you, too, had not been long a member of our club, before you distinguished yourself above us all. Fortune smiled on your youthful audacity. You grew particular in horses and dress, frequented public haunts, and being a deuced good-looking fellow, with an inborn air of gentility, and some sort of education, you became sufficiently well received, to acquire, in a short time, the manner and tone of awhat shall I say,—a gentleman, and the taste to like suitable associates. This is
