He had been rich before his marriage with his own wealth,--so rich that he could throw thousands away if he wished it; but for him and his career was needed that colossal wealth which would make men talk about it,--which would necessitate an expansive expenditure, reaching far and wide, doing nothing, or less than nothing, for his own personal comfort, but giving to him at once that rock-like solidity which is so necessary to our great aristocratic politicians.

And his wife was, as far as he knew, all that he desired.

He had not dabbled much in the fountains of Venus, though he had forgotten himself once, and sinned in coveting another man's wife.

But his sin then had hardly polluted his natural character, and his desire had been of a kind which was almost more gratified in its disappointment than it would have been in its fruition.

On the morning after the lady had frowned on him he had told himself that he was very well out of that trouble.