"I'm no humbug of that kind," said be, resolutely. "I'm a man of the world, that just takes life as he finds it, and neither fancies that human nature is one jot better or worse than it is. Hampton goes and marries a girl of sixteen; she is very beautiful and very rich. What of that? She leaves him--and what becomes of the wealth and beauty? She is ruined,--utterly ruined! He has his action at law, and gets swingeing damages, of course. What's the use of that? Will twenty thousand--will forty--would a hundred thousand pounds serve to compensate him for a lost position in life, and the affection of that charming creature? You know it would not, sir. Don't affect hesitation nor doubt about it You know it would not." "That was n't what I was thinking of at all, my Lord. I was only speculating on the mighty small chance your friend would have of the money." "Do you mean to say, sir, that the jury would n't give it?" "Theory might, but Kenny Dodd wouldn't," said I. "The Queen's Bench, sir, or the Court of Exchequer, would take care of that. They 'd issue a 'Mandamus,'--the strongest weapon of our law; they'd sell to the last stick of your property; they'd take your wife's jewels,--the coat off your back--" "As to the jewels of Mrs. D.," says I, "and my own wardrobe, I 'm afraid they 'd not go far towards the liquidation." "They'd attach every acre of your estate." "Much good it would do them," said I. "We're in the Encumbered Court already." "Whatever your income may be derived from, they 're sure to discover it." "Faith!" said I, "I 'd be grateful to them for the information, for it's two months now since I beard from Tom Purcell, and I don't know where I'm to get a shilling!" "But what are damages, after all!" said he; "nothing, absolutely nothing!" "Nothing indeed!" said I. "And look at the misery through which a man most wade ere be attain to them. A public trial, a rule to show cause, a motion,--three or four thousand gone for that. The case heard at Westminster Hall,--forty-seven witnesses brought over special from different parts of the Continent, at from two guineas to ten per diem, and travelling expenses,--what money could stand it; and see what it comes to: you ruin some poor devil without benefiting yourself. That 's the folly of it! Believe me, Dodd, the only people that get any enjoyment out of these cases are the lawyers!" "I can believe it well, my Lord." "I know it,--I know it, sir," said he, fiercely. "I have already told you that I 'm no humbug. I don't want to pretend to any nonsense about virtue, and all that. I was once in my life--I was young, it is true--in the same predicament you now stand in. It won't do to speak of the parties, but I suspect our cases were very similar. The friend who acted for the husband happened to be one who knew all my family and connections. He came frankly to me, and said,--