Viscount Lynton shook Lucios hand heartily.
You are an awfully good fellow! he said, speaking hurriedly. And I assure you seriously if I had a soul I should be very glad to part with it for a thousand pounds at the present moment. But I feel convinced I shall win tomorrow!
I am sure you will! returned Lucio affably.
The Viscount smiled and left the club. As soon as the door had closed behind him, several of the gamesters exchanged sententious nods and glances.
Ruined! said one of them.
His gambling debts are more than he can ever pay, added another.
These remarks were made indifferently, as though one should talk of the weather, no sympathy was expressed. But I was not utterly vile. I inwardly resolved to write to Viscount Lynton that very evening, and tell him to consider his debt to me cancelled, as I should refuse to claim it. I met Lucios gaze fixed steadily upon me. He smiled, and in a few minutes we had left the club, and were out in the cold night air under a heaven of frostily sparkling stars. My companion laid his hand on my shoulder.
Tempest, if you are going to be kind-hearted or sympathetic to undeserving rascals, I shall leave you! he said, with a curious mixture of satire and seriousness in his voice. I see you want to cancel Lyntons debt, you are a fool. He is a born scoundrel, why should you compassionate him? From the time he first went to college till now, he has been doing nothing but live a life of degraded sensuality. He is a worthless rake, worse than a dog!