I have passed through every grade of life.

With my own skill and daring I have made my own fortune.

I have been in fourteen pitched battles as a private soldier, and have been twenty-three times on the ground, and never was touched but once; and that was by the sword of a French maitre-d'armes, Whom I killed.

I started in life at seventeen, a beggar, and am now at seven-and-twenty, with twenty thousand guineas.

Do you suppose a man of my courage and energy can't attain anything that he dares, and that having claims upon the widow, I will not press them ?' This speech was not exactly true to the letter (for I had multiplied my pitched battles, my duels, and my wealth somewhat); but I saw that it made the impression I desired to effect upon the young gentleman's mind, who listened to my statement with peculiar seriousness, and whom I presently left to digest it.
A couple of days afterwards I called to see him again, when I brought with me some of the letters that had passed between me and my Lady Lyndon.