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194
VIVIAN GREY.

Royal Councils. And as I have often remarked, I have friends—I have you, Vivian. My career is before you. I know what I should have done, at your age; not to say, what I did do—I to be a tool! The very last person that ought to be a tool. But I see my error: you have opened my eyes, and blessed be the hour in which we met. But we must take care how we act, Vivian; we must be wary—eh! Vivian—wary—wary. People must know what their situations are,—eh! Vivian?"

"Exceedingly useful knowledge, my Lord, but I don't exactly understand the particular purport of your Lordship's last observation."

"You don't, eh?" asked the peer, and he fixed his eyes as earnestly, and expressively, as he possibly could upon his young companion. "Well, I thought not. I was positive it was not true," continued the Marquess, in a murmur.

"What, my Lord?"