“‘Indeed!’ said I, ‘did you play?’ “‘To be sure I did,’ was the reply, ‘and have got all my money back again, with a tolerably comfortable stake besides. I regretted much that you were not there. Our error, last night, is obvious enough; the wine made us imprudent, or we both could have risen from the table winners.’ “‘Perhaps it is better that we, at least that _I_, did not. I might have been tempted to continue a course that I feel confident would lead to disastrous consequences.’ “‘Well,’ said Roberts, ‘I dare say you are right; and right or wrong, it is certainly not my wish to urge you to play. I merely thought you might be desirous to recover what you had parted with, and would therefore venture a trifle more to effect such a result; but let that be. You will be on the field to-morrow, of course?’ “‘No,’ replied I, firmly. “‘No!’ exclaimed Roberts, with great surprise. ‘Why, what becomes of your horse, Velox? There is nothing in the stables to match him, and a heavy purse to be won.’ “‘I have determined to sell out my racing stock.’ Roberts stared at me. “‘Indeed,’ he exclaimed at length. ‘What next? I am prepared now for any marvel. Possibly you are going to turn Methodist; when may we expect you to hold forth?’ ‘Pardon me,’ he cried, as he saw that I was beginning to be displeased with his freedom, ‘but I cannot but wonder that a man of your strength of mind and liberality of disposition, should permit himself to be so worked upon by a trifling loss of money, for trifling it is, compared with your means. What will your friends say, when they hear that the wealthy Mr. W—— is going to withdraw himself from their society and the fashionable amusements of the day, because, in a luckless hour, he touched a card, and lost some money, which he well could spare?’ “‘Mr. Roberts,’ I hastily replied, ‘I have not said what my motives were, nor have you a right to impute petty ones to me. It may be, sir, that you conceive good or ill luck to be the only principle which can govern a man in such a case: I trust I can be, and am influenced by a higher feeling; a sense of right and wrong.’ “‘Nay, nay,’ said he, ‘be not angry with me. _I_ question not the correctness of your course, I only suggest what will be the probable remarks of others. It is known that you were unsuccessful at faro last night; you immediately proceed to dispose of your running horses, and that too with every prospect before you of a fortunate campaign. Rumor will increase forty fold the amount you have sunk, and it will be at once supposed you were compelled to sell. For, be assured, that however pure and correct your conduct may be, mankind will never believe in the existence of a motive which would exalt, if they can, by any possibility, pitch upon one that would have a contrary tendency. However, I am done. I trust you will not ascribe what I have said to any thing but friendly feelings towards you.’