There be many fine ladies, and curled darlings of fashion, who would give much to know that secret." "But if he be a lord--" "Ah, indeed--a wise 'if'! He is no more a lord than I am! That much I can tell you.

But the name fits, and he wears it with a grace.
There be ladies in high places, too, who would not be averse to share it with him, and be my Lady Claud, even though no other name might be hers." "But he is very rich; and rich men--" "Rich!--ay, verily; and so should I be rich, if every time my purse was empty I helped myself to Her Majesty's gold, as it traversed the road from place to place!" Tom stopped short as though he had been shot.
"A highwayman!" he gasped.
Harry bestowed upon him a sage glance and a mocking laugh.
"That is your word, not mine, my friend.

Breathe it not before his lordship! But there be many who swear that he is none other than a grandson of the famous Claud Duval of olden days, and that he rolls in the wealth he has filched from royalty itself." "And yet he lives like a prince, and all the world pays him court!" "Oh yes--it is the way of the world; a successful villain is as much an idol as a successful general.

The tide may turn.

All high positions have their dangers.