CHAPTER XV.
"Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit, Restless--unfixed in principles and place."-- DRYDEN.
"Whoever acquires a very great number of ideas interesting to the society in which he lives, will be regarded in that society as a man of abilities."-- HELVETIUS.
IT was just when Ernest Maltravers was so bad that he could not be worse that a young man visited Temple Grove.

The name of this young man was Lumley Ferrers, his age was about twenty-six, his fortune about eight hundred a year--he followed no profession.

Lumley Ferrers had not what is usually called genius; that is, he had no enthusiasm; and if the word talent be properly interpreted as meaning the talent of doing something better than others, Ferrers had not much to boast of on that score.

He had no talent for writing, nor for music, nor painting, nor the ordinary round of accomplishments; neither at present had he displayed much of the hard and useful talent for action and business.

But Ferrers had what is often better than either genius or talent; he had a powerful and most acute mind.
He had, moreover, great animation of manner, high physical spirits, a witty, odd, racy vein of conversation, determined assurance, and profound confidence in his own resources.