‘I think it is a hard case in every view of it,’ returned the youth. ‘The man has lost his wife—the seducer has married one whom he cannot love, and the new wife will doubtless have a hard time of it with the fellow.’ ‘The husband was bent on revenge,’ said Blodget, ‘and in riveting the two criminals together, I think he has punished both. It is not likely the wife will ever live to inherit the banker’s wealth. He will either dot her or kill her with unkindness.’ ‘But shall we not go back to the house?’ inquired Monteagle. Blodget perceived that the young clerk’s feelings had been too highly wrought up by the contemplation of female beauty to admit of his returning peaceably home without first becoming better acquainted with one of the inmates of the house which they had last visited. He was not averse to returning to the temple of pleasure, and accordingly he replied in the affirmative. But on returning to the house, they found the light out, and the parties retired for the night, for the dawn of day was not far off. It was enough for Blodget that he had inducted Monteagle into the downward path. He did not doubt that, hereafter the young man would take rapid strides towards the point whither he was so desirous of directing his steps. Monteagle separated from his companion and returned home, where he was soon in the land of dreams. He awoke late in the morning and felt a little confused after his night’s career; for while he was not really intoxicated, he had been a little merry, and even that was a rare thing for Lorenzo Monteagle. His employers were not Puritans, and consequently they observed nothing peculiar in his manner or appearance. Mr. Brown, however, was very sociable with Monteagle on that day, and the latter imagined that he knew the cause. He supposed that the young man was in a fair way to marry Julia, and accordingly the former rose in his estimation. Brown was one of those worthies who worship the rising sun. He as well as Blodget thought that Monteagle was ‘a lucky dog.’ Indeed, he would have been glad to be in his place. Monteagle saw into all this, but did not act as if he perceived it.