"Well," thought the Duke, as he put his arm through that of Louis; "Anteas rose the stronger, after he had touched his mother earth! But Hercules will try another throw!" "De Montemar," said he, "let us leave these unlucky Hourii to their slumbers, and resume the subject which they charmed to silence last night?--An eve's dropper might be dangerous; so, let us turn towards the wood, where we may converse undisturbed." Louis looked at his watch, and seeing that the tide would not be at full for yet half an hour, he allowed Wharton to turn his steps through the inner-court into the park. "Louis de Montemar, I am going to unlock my heart to you.--I am going to put my life into your hands." "My Lord?" "I am.--But I have weighed the trust.--You do not know yourself.--I do; and,--laugh at me for a coxcomb, if you please! But I affirm, your character and mine are composed of the same materials. I recognize my brother's soul in your breast; and the same will be your pursuits, the same your destiny." "Oh, my Lord," cried Louis, "if emulation could transform its subject, you might not prophesy in vain!--But I will not think you mock me! Your own luminous nature surrounds you; and seeing through that, you fancy objects bright, which only reflect your beams." "Prettily said, my ingenious friend," answered the Duke, "but my position shall be proved by the fact.--Let us compare circumstances.--You are not yet of age?" "Just twenty." "Young enough to be catechised!--Will you answer me fairly?" Louis smiled: "as my godfathers did promise and vow?" "Have you ambition?" "As much as ever budded the brow of young Ammon." "Have you enterprize?" "Else my ambition had never been avowed." "Can you dare the world's obloquy?" "In a noble cause, I would risk its hisses." The Duke caught him in his arms.--"By all the host of heaven," exclaimed he, "Yours is a spirit, with which mine shall have no disguises!--You know I am _reported_, _slandered_! But, on your own principle, I exult in the hooting of the mob; and I would direct your flight to the point whereon I stand, and laugh triumphant on the fools below! Mark my progress, de Montemar.--You see in Warwick, what nine-tenths of nobility are; distinguished from the crowd by nothing but their titles and extravagance. I would sooner hang like Absalom on a tree, than so pass away amongst the herd of my cotemporaries! "My father did not understand my character; and when he died, bequeathed me doctors of law and doctors of divinity, to teach me the way I should go. They tried to break the spirit they could not bend; and often hard words, and harder usage, shook their heads as well as their canes, and pronounced me an unmanagable colt. In the very heat and tempest of my rebellion, I told them I was a Bucephalus they could not tame! And so, breaking from their bridle, wonder not I scoured the field in the very wantonness of liberty!" Louis joined in the gay laugh of his friend, and Wharton proceeded.