If you want cash, call on me any day next week. You, being a _particular_ friend, I'll oblige. But to any one else--Somerville now for instance or Nugent--'It will be curst unfortunate, but I shall have had a hard run of late--or, I shall be building, and want to borrow myself--or, there will be great arrears on my estates not yet paid up.'--But see, here comes a bowing cringing tradesman, who in my days of worse fortune has buffeted me with his purse-proud looks many a time and often. 'Really Mr.----a--a--the amount of your bill seems a little enormous, but I can't fatigue myself with looking into these matters----the steward pays you,--Ay, ay, be not troublesome, and (throwing myself along the sopha) I may probably still deal with you.--Sibella, my dear, raise these cushions under my head--Psha, child, you are devilishly awkward--there--. Pooh!--throw that gauze shade of your's over me.----Sit down, and watch, lest Ponto or Rosetta should leap upon or disturb me.' By the bye, Walter, as I am determined to reform when I'm married, and become an obedient hopeful son and nephew, if uncle Valmont should think (and pray heaven he may) my wife's---- Oh, lord, what a shudder!----There! 'tis a radical cure, I assure you.--I seized a square piece of paper; and, writing thereon in large characters 6000l. _per annum_, placed it exactly opposite me, and the qualm vanished.--Walter, you shall see wife written on my page--_my wife!_--Oh, I declare this scrap of paper is a charm of infinite value!-- If uncle Valmont, I say, should deem my wife's education incomplete, and desires to have her longer under his tuition, I will yield her up for one year, or two, or twenty, if he pleases.--There's forbearance, there's magnanimity! Dub me a hero, sir knight! and place me among the foremost!--Talk of conquering a world, indeed! Why philosophers of all ages have agreed that the truest heroism is to conquer self.--Dub me a hero, I say! I grant you, this is all rattle (that is the manner not the matter, upon my honor), and poor forced rattle too; but I must be mad, for I cannot be merry, nor yet serious. My gadding spirits are whirling this enterprise round and round without ceasing. Sometimes tossing the dark side toward me; and then, ere I can make one retracting reflection, smilingly presenting to me its advantages.--At that still time of night (if my plan fail not) when graves yield up the semblance of their dead, my courtship is to begin.--Once begun, it must go on; and the second setting sun beholds me a bridegroom.--Close your door, Boyer; stir up your fire; and I'll tell you.----Not now though, for--enter Griffiths. 'The gentlemen have walked out to the grounds, my lord. Mrs. Valmont and Lady Monkton are alone.' 'Right Griffiths, I understand your hint.'