32 FORTUNES. 



to understand how the first four years 

 of my married life was passed. In the 

 full enjoyment of health, as well as do- 

 mestic comfort and happiness, moving in 

 good society, and with a business hi- 

 therto lucrative, to which I gave all the 

 attention I could, the love of field-sports 

 did but little, if at all, interfere with it : 

 I could not control, though I partly fore- 

 saw the circumstances that accomplished 

 my fall from a position I had held, with 

 credit, and in which I had gained the 

 good will and esteem of those who had 

 known me both abroad and at home. 



Among the persons who came within 

 the circle of my acquaintance, but with 

 whom I was not on terms of intimacy, 

 was one of rather strange appearance. 

 He possessed very soft and, to some, 

 pleasing, but by no means polished, 

 manners, and always addressed every one 

 with a smile. 



