Before him lay his broad-spread fields; near by, his lordly mansion; and being still,--perhaps by female contact,--somewhat sentimental, he fell to musing on his past.

It was hardly worthy to be proud of.

All its morning was reddened with mad frolic, and far toward the meridian it was marred with elegant rioting.

Pride had kept him well-nigh useless, and despised the honors won by valor; gaming had dimmed prosperity; death had taken his heavenly wife; voluptuous ease had mortgaged his lands; and yet his house still stood, his sweet-smelling fields were still fruitful, his name was fame enough; and yonder and yonder, among the trees and flowers, like angels walking in Eden, were the seven goddesses of his only worship.
Just then a slight sound behind him brought him to his feet.

He cast his eyes anxiously to the outer edge of the little strip of bank between the levee's base and the river.