a fortune of her own, as well as beauty, birth, and all the other things--
that was out of his reach. If he talked to himself of love, if he were
ever to acknowledge to himself that love was to have sway over him, then
must Lucy Morris be the mistress of his heart. He had come to know enough
about himself to be aware of that; but he knew also that he had said
nothing binding him to walk in that path. It was quite open to him to
indulge a discreet ambition without dishonour. Therefore he also had come
to call upon the beautiful widow. The courtship with her he knew need not
be long. He could ask her to marry him to-morrow--as for that matter,
to-day--without a feeling of hesitation. She might accept him, or might
reject him; but, as he said to himself, in neither case would any harm be
done.

An idea of the same kind flitted across Lizzie's mind as she sat and
talked to the two gentlemen. She knew that her cousin Frank was poor, but
she thought that she could fall in love with him. He was not exactly a
Corsair, but he was a man who had certain Corsair propensities. He was
bold and dashing, unscrupulous and clever--a man to make a name for
himself, and one to whom a woman could endure to be obedient. There could
be no question as to choice between him and Lord Fawn if she were to allow
herself to choose by liking. And she thought that Frank Greystock would
keep the necklace, if he himself were made to have an interest in the
necklace; whereas Lord Fawn would undoubtedly surrender it at once to Mr.
Camperdown.

Lord Fawn had some slight idea of waiting to see the cousin go; but as
Greystock had a similar idea, and as he was the stronger of the two, of
course Lord Fawn went. He perhaps remembered that the hansom cab was at
the door, costing sixpence every fifteen minutes, and that he wished to
show himself in the House of Lords before the peers rose. Miss Macnulty