‘And then you know,’ he continued, ’it is so purely kind of him; for of course I am not fit to be a companion for Cadurcis, and perhaps, as far as that, no one is.  Of course we have not a thought in common.  I know nothing but what I have picked up in a rough life; and he, you know, is the cleverest person that ever lived, at least I think so.’

Lady Annabel smiled.

‘Well, he is very young,’ she observed, ’much your junior, Captain Cadurcis; and I hope he will yet prove a faithful steward of the great gifts that God has given him.’

‘I would stake all I hold dear,’ said the Captain, with great animation, ’that Cadurcis turns out well.  He has such a good heart.  Ah!  Lady Annabel, if he be now and then a little irregular, only think of the temptations that assail him.  Only one-and-twenty, his own master, and all London at his feet.  It is too much for any one’s head.  But say or think what the world may, I know him better than they do; and I know there is not a finer creature in existence.  I hope his old friends will not desert him,’ added Captain Cadurcis, with a smile which, seemed to deprecate the severity of Lady Annabel; ’for in spite of all his fame and prosperity, perhaps, after all, this is the time when he most needs them.’

‘Very possibly,’ said her ladyship rather dryly.

While the mother was engaged in this conversation with her neighbour respecting her former interesting acquaintance, such was the fame of Lord Cadurcis then in the metropolis, that he also formed the topic of conversation at another part of the table, to which the daughter was an attentive listener.  The tone in which he was spoken of, however, was of a very different character.  While no one disputed his genius, his principles, temper, and habits of life were submitted to the severest scrutiny; and it was with blended feelings of interest and astonishment that Venetia listened to the detail of wild opinions, capricious conduct, and extravagant and eccentric behaviour ascribed to the companion of her childhood, who had now become the spoiled child of society.  A shrewd gentleman, who had taken an extremely active part in this discussion, inquired of Venetia, next to whom he was seated, whether she had read his lordship’s last poem.  He was extremely surprised when Venetia answered in the negative; but he seized the opportunity of giving her an elaborate criticism on the poetical genius of Cadurcis.  ‘As for his style,’ said the critic, ’no one can deny that is his own, and he will last by his style; as for his philosophy, and all these wild opinions of his, they will pass away, because they are not genuine, they are not his own, they are borrowed.  He will outwrite them; depend upon it, he will.  The fact is, as a friend of mine observed the other day, Herbert’s writings have turned his head.  Of course you could know nothing about them, but there are wonderful things in them, I can tell you that.’