Falkner. You know well enough I have had my vexations in life; in an early stage of it I married—
Sir W. Every man has his trials!
Falkner. About two years afterwards I lost my wife.
Sir W. That was a heavy misfortune! however you bore it with fortitude.
Falkner. I bore it easily; my wife was a woman without feelings: she had not energy for great virtue, and she had no vice, because she had no passion: life with her was a state of stagnation.
Sir W. How different are the fates of men!
Falkner. In the next instance, I had a friend whom I would have trusted with my life—with more—my honour—I need not tell you then I thought him the first of human beings; but I was mistaken—he understood my character no better than I knew his: he confided to me a transaction which proved him to be a villain, and I commanded him never to see me more.
Sir W. Bless me! what was that transaction?
Falkner. It was a secret, and has remained so. Though I should have liked to hang the fellow, he had trusted me, and no living creature but himself and me at this day is possessed of it.
Sir W. Strange indeed; and what became of him.