"I am giving to it, sir," said he, gravely, "my best and most careful consideration. I am endeavoring, by the aid of such information as is before me, to weigh the difficulties that attach to either course, and to decide for that one which shall secure to my friend Hampton the largest share of the world's sympathy and approval. I have seen a great deal of life, and all that I know of it teaches the one lesson,--distrust, rather than yield to, first impressions. Awhile ago, when I entered this room, I would have said to Hampton, 'Shoot him like a dog, sir.' Now, I own to you, Dodd, this is not the counsel I should give him. Now, understand me well, I neither acquit nor condemn you; circumstances are far too strong against you for the one, and I have not the heart to do the other." "This talking is dry work, my Lord," said I. "Shall we have a glass of wine?" "Willingly," said he, seating himself, and throwing his gloves into his hat, with the air of a man quite disposed to take his ease comfortably. Our host produced a flask of his inimitable Steinberger, and another of a native growth, to which he invited our attention, and left us to ourselves once more. We filled, touched our glasses, German fashion, drank, and resumed our converse. "If any man could have told me, twenty-four hours ago, that I should be sitting where I now find myself, and with _you_ for my companion, I'd have told him to his face he was a calumniator and a scoundrel! This time yesterday, Dodd, I 'd have put a bullet through you, myself." "You don't say that, my Lord?" "I do say, and repeat it, I believed you to be the greatest villain the universe contained. I thought you a monster of the foulest depravity." "Well, I 'm delighted to have undeceived you, my Lord." "You _have_ undeceived me!--I own to it. I believe, if I know anything, it is human nature. I have not been a deep student in other things, but in the heart of man I have read deeply. I know your whole history in this affair as well as if I was present at the events. You never intended seduction here." "Nothing of the kind, my Lord,--never dreamed of it!" "I know it; I know it. She got an influence over you,--she fascinated you,--she held you captive, Dodd. She mingled in your thoughts,--she became part of all your most secret cogitations. With that warm, impulsive nature of your country, you made no resistance,--you could make none. You fell into the net at once,--don't deny it I like you the better for it,--upon my life I do. Don't suppose that I 'm Archbishop of Canterbury or Dean of Durham, man." "I don't suspect, in the least," said I.