 virtue upon men. Attracted by her good looks and sparkle, they
entered the circle of her charm, became delightfully intimate, suffered a
rebuff, and were from that time prepared to serve her purpose. How many other
wretched dupes had she dangling? He spied at Westlake, spied at Redworth, at old
Lord Larrian, at Lord Dannisburgh, at Arthur Rhodes, dozens. Old and young were
alike to her if she saw an end to be gained by keeping them hooked. Tonans too,
and Whitmonby. Newspaper editors were especially serviceable. Perhaps a young
Minister of State held the foremost rank in that respect: if completely duped
and squeezeable, he produced more substantial stuff.
    The background of ice in Dacier's composition was brought to the front by
his righteous contempt of her treachery. No explanation of it would have
appeased him. She was guilty, and he condemned her. She stood condemned by all
the evil likely to ensue from her misdeed. Scarcely had he left her house last
night when she was away to betray him! - He shook her from him without a pang.
Crediting her with the one merit she had - that of not imploring for mercy - he
the more easily shook her off. Treacherous, she had not proved theatrical. So
there was no fuss in putting out her light, and it was done. He was justified by
the brute facts. Honourable, courteous, kindly gentleman, highly civilized, an
excellent citizen and a patriot, he was icy at an outrage to his principles, and
in the dominion of Love a sultan of the bow-string and chopper period,
sovereignly endowed to stretch a finger for the scimitared Mesrour to make the
erring woman head and trunk with one blow: and away with those remnants! This
internally he did. Enough that the brute facts justified him.
    St. James's park was crossed, and the grass of the Green park, to avoid
inquisitive friends. He was obliged to walk; exercise, action of any sort, was
imperative, and but for some engagement he would have gone to his fencing-rooms
for a bout with the master. He remembered his engagement and grew doubly
embittered. He had absurdly pledged himself to lunch with Quintin Manx; that
was, to pretend to eat while submitting to be questioned by a political dullard
strong on his present right to overhaul and rail at his superiors. The house was
one of a block along the North-Western line of Hyde park. He kicked at the
subjection to go there, but a promise was binding, though he gave it when
stunned. He could
