"Why, did not everybody think so?"
"Certainly not. Brummell was pretty generally known for a man destitute of feeling or principle; but he looked well at an assembly, and was the fashion."
"I would forgive him the seven thousand pounds he has robbed me of; but, on Worcester's account, I shall expose him to-morrow at White's."
"Why not let Worcester fight his own battles?"
"That is just what, for the Duchess of Beaufort's sake, I wish to prevent."
"I think you may trust Worcester, who has no sort of inclination to fight Brummell nor anybody else."
"No matter. Brummell I will certainly expose; because he has basely obtained a sum of money from my friend."
"So has Lord Alvanly."
"But then, Lord Alvanly may at least contrive to pay the interest; therefore it was not so complete a fraud. Nevertheless, I hold it my duty, as an independent gentleman, never to give my countenance nor society to a man who has done a dishonourable action. I shall therefore cut Lord Alvanly wherever I meet him, notwithstanding no man delights more in his amusing qualities than I do; but, believing that society would be much improved by general firmness of this kind, no power on earth should prevail on me to swerve from this my fixed determination."