All these things, thought he, must come to every man in time, unless he is a saint, or an author, or has no money, and therefore they must come to me; but now it was different.

If there is to be any fishing, he thought, I will be the hawk, and the minnow may take its chance of happiness.

Why should the minnow not be happy?
I am a hawk; well--but I am a very good hawk.
But these reflections were not what occupied his mind as he sat with his second cigar in the reading-room of his quiet club.

These things he had elaborated in his brain at least three days ago, and they had now taken the form of a decision, against which there could be no appeal, because it was pleasant to the _ego_ of Mr Barker.

Judgments of that sort he never reversed.