"Well, I don't know so much about that, Moorpark. A man's as old as he feels; and hang it, sir, when I'm in the presence of that woman, sir, I feel two-and-twenty." "Well, yes; it does make one feel young and hopeful, and as if we imbibed some of their sweetness and youth, Elbraham." "Sweetness and youth! Ah, that's it, Moorpark. Sweetness and youth-- they're full of it. Miss Riversley's lovely, ain't she?" "Truly a beautiful woman." "That she is," said Elbraham. "Though, for the fact of that, Marie is not to be sneezed at." "No, by no means," assented Lord Henry, whose brow knit a little here. "They are very charming, and thoroughly unspoiled by the world." "That's the beauty of them, Moorpark, and that's what fetches me, my dear boy. Lord bless your heart! with my money I could have married a thousand women. I'm not boasting, Moorpark, but I can assure you I've stood up like a stump, and duchesses, and countesses, and viscountesses, and my lady this and my lady that, have for any number of years bowled their daughters at me, and I might have had my pick and choice," said Elbraham--apparently forgetting in his excitement that there was a trifling degree of exaggeration in his words, for his efforts to get into high-class society had not been successful on the whole. "I am not surprised--with your wealth," said Lord Henry. "Yes, I am warm," continued Elbraham; "and the best of the fun is, that they were all ready to forget that I was a Jew. For I don't mind speaking plainly to you: I have some of the chosen blood in my veins, though I have changed over. But that's neither here nor there." "Of course not," assented Lord Henry. "And what I like in our beauties is, that they look as if they'd got some of the chosen blood in them." "Ye-e-es," assented Lord Henry; "they are dark, with the Southern look in their complexions. But it improves them." "Improves! I should think it does. Why, look here, Moorpark, you saw Clotilde to-day in that plain cotton dress thing, or whatever it was?" "Yes, and she looked beautiful as her sister," said Lord Henry warmly. "She did--she did. But wait a bit, my boy. I'll hang diamonds and pearls round that girl's neck, and stick tiaras in her hair, and bracelets on her arms, till I make even the princesses envious--that I will. But now, look here, I'm glad we've come to an understanding. You'll dine with me at my club, Moorpark? Don't say no." "With pleasure, if you will dine with me." "Done. Where do you hang out?" "Four hundred and four, Berkeley Square." "Say Monday for me, at the Imperial--seven sharp; and we'll settle when I come to _you_." "At seven on Monday," said Lord Henry, "I will be there." "And now I must be off back to town. Good-bye, God bless you, Moorpark. One word first: you'll like to do it handsome, of course, in presents, and that sort of thing." "Indeed I shall not be ungenerous as soon as I know her tastes."