for money,--this was a thought which he could not contemplate, and which he felt he would rather pass his life in solitude than endure. But this very feeling gave an embarrassment to his situation with Lucilla, and yet more fixedly combined her image with that of a wearisome seclusion and an eternal ennui. From the thought of Lucilla, coupled with its many embarrassments, Godolphin turned with avidity to the easy enjoyments of life--enjoyments that ask no care and dispense with the trouble of reflection. But among the visitors to Rome, the one whose sight gave to Godolphin the greatest pleasure was his old friend Augustus Saville. A decaying constitution, and a pulmonary attack in especial, had driven the accomplished voluptuary to a warmer climate. The meeting of the two friends was quite characteristic: it was at a soiree at an English house. Saville had managed to get up a whist-table. "Look, Saville, there is Godolphin, your old friend!" cried the host, who was looking on the game, and waiting to cut in. "Hist!" said Saville; "don't direct his attention to me until after the odd trick!" Notwithstanding this coolness when a point was in question, Saville was extremely glad to meet his former pupil. They retired into a corner of the room, and talked over the world. Godolphin hastened to turn the conversation on Lady Erpingham. "Ah!" said Saville, "I see from your questions, and yet more your tone of voice, that although it is now several years since you met, you still preserve the sentiment--the weakness--Ah!--bah!" "Pshaw!" said Godolphin; "I owe her revenge, not love. But Erpingham? Does she love him? He is handsome." "Erpingham? What--you have not heard----" "Heard what?" "Oh, nothing: but, pardon me, they wait for me at the card-table. I should like to stay with you, but you know one must not be selfish; the table would be broken up without me. No virtue without self-sacrifice--eh?" "But one moment. What is the matter with the Erpinghams? have they quarrelled?" "Quarrelled?--bah! Quarrelled--no; I dare say she likes him better now than ever she did before." And Saville limped away to the table. Godolphin remained for some time abstracted and thoughtful. At length, just as he was going away, Saville, who, having an unplayable hand and a bad partner, had somewhat lost his interest in the game, looked up and beckoned to him. "Godolphin, my clear fellow, I am to escort a lady to see the lions to-morrow; a widow--a rich widow; handsome, too. Do, for charity's sake, accompany us, or meet us at the Colosseum. How well that sounds--eh? About two." Godolphin refused at first, but being pressed, assented.