Then he would call on some lady whose acquaintance at the moment might be of service to him;--for that idea of blazing once more out into the world on a wife's fortune was always present to him.

At about five he would saunter into his club, and play a rubber in a gentle unexcited manner till seven.

He never played for high points, and would never be enticed into any bet beyond the limits of his club stakes.

Were he to lose L10 or L20 at a sitting his arrangements would be greatly disturbed, and his comfort seriously affected.

But he played well, taking pains with his game, and some who knew him well declared that his whist was worth a hundred a year to him.