Not many years ago, with all of them; not many months ago, with some; those brilliant and titled coxcombs were adventurers like yourself, having barely a Jacobus in their purses, and scarce credit for board and lodging with their respective landladies.

Now you see how nobly they feast, and how richly they bedeck themselves.

On my credit! the like good fortune may attend you; and haply, when I dine at an ordinary a year hence, I may perceive you at the upper table, with a curtain before you to keep off the meaner company, and your serving-man at your back, holding your velvet mantle and cap, like the best of your fellow nobles." "Heaven grant it may be so!" the young man exclaimed, with a sigh.

"You hold a dazzling picture before me; but I have little expectation of realizing it." "It will be your own fault if you do not," the tempter rejoined.

"You are equally well-favoured with the handsomest of them; and it was by good looks alone that the whole party rose to their present eminence.
Why not pursue the same course; with the same certainty of success?
You have courage enough to undertake it, I presume ?" "If courage alone were wanting, I have that," the young man replied;--"but I am wholly unknown in town.