But take the other case (which may occur to any body), the case of a special temptation trying a modern young man of your prosperous class and of mine.

And let me beg Mr.
Delamayn to honor with his attention what I have now to say, because it refers to the opinion which I did really express--as distinguished from the opinion which he affects to agree with, and which I never advanced." Geoffrey's indifference showed no signs of giving way.

"Go on!" he said--and still sat looking straight before him, with heavy eyes, which noticed nothing, and expressed nothing.
"Take the example which we have now in view," pursued Sir Patrick--"the example of an average young gentleman of our time, blest with every advantage that physical cultivation can bestow on him.

Let this man be tried by a temptation which insidiously calls into action, in his own interests, the savage instincts latent in humanity--the instincts of self-seeking and cruelty which are at the bottom of all crime.

Let this man be placed toward some other person, guiltless of injuring him, in a position which demands one of two sacrifices: the sacrifice of the other person, or the sacrifice of his own interests and his own desires.
His neighbor's happiness, or his neighbor's life, stands, let us say, between him and the attainment of something that he wants.