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It creates envy! It hastens misfortune! What is a butterfly? At best He's but a caterpillar drest! The gaudy fop's his picture just. as Poor RICHARD says. But what madness must it be, to run into debt for these superfluities?

The Countess laid a reminding finger on her lips, as she moved toward the door. There appeared an elderly man, in a black frockcoat, loose-fitting and not too garishly new, a student's coat rather than a fop's. "Is this Perfesser Balthasar?" inquired the Countess in her best manner. "At your service, Madam!"

He had gone to the refectory with good intent to write his letter; but finding a small company of monks gathered there and they appearing much perturbed, he asked the cause. One said there was a strange Abbé in the monastery, whose hands were as bejewelled as any fop's, and that a number had gone in search of him.

Now that The Fop's demonstration was over, the colts, startled into flight by some impish spirit amongst them, galloped and frisked away over the green turf, until, curious again, they circled back, halted at gaze, and then, led by one particularly saucy chestnut filly, drew up in half a circle before the riders, with alert pricking ears. Graham scarcely saw the colts at first.

Much of his costume was merely showy or eccentric, without the rotund unity of the perfect fop's. It had been well had he lacked that dash and spontaneous gallantry that make him cut, it may be, a more attractive figure than Beau Brummell. The youth of St. James's gave him a wonderful welcome. The flight of Mr. Brummell had left them as sheep without a shepherd.

"In fact, own that you would be a miserable man, in spite of all your wealth, if the young dandies, who throng to your banquets, were to cut you dead in the streets; if, when your high-stepping horse stopped at your club, the porter shut the door in your face; if, when you lounged into the opera-pit, handsome dog that you are, each spendthrift rake in 'Fop's Alley, who now waits but the scratch of your pen to endorse billets doux with the charm that can chain to himself for a month some nymph of the Ballet, spinning round in a whirlwind of tulle, would shrink from the touch of your condescending forefinger with more dread of its contact than a bailiff's tap in the thick of Pall Mall could inspire; if, reduced to the company of city clerks, parasite led-captains "

Of course, the close-coupled, easy canter; but I scarcely call that a gait it's no more than the long lope reduced to the adjustment of wind or rough ground." "She's a beauty," Dick admired, his eyes warm in contemplation of the saucy chestnut filly, who was daringly close and alertly sniffing of the subdued Fop's tremulous and nostril-dilated muzzle.

"Is that the girl?" his friend inquired. "She's the one." "Boy, maybe she isn't daffy over you." And El Carnicerin, with a conceited smile, added: "I've turned her head, all right." Manuel could have torn out the fop's heart at that moment. His disappointment in love made him think of leaving Senor Custodio's house.

The fop's lip was cut and bleeding when he rose. "You cur!" bellowed the fellow. "The opinion of a person like you can't matter very much," Dave retorted coolly. A little crowd was beginning to gather. Dave's pallor increased, for his very soul writhed at the thought of having Belle's name involved in a brawl in this fashion. "You're a " began Ardmore, but Dave Darrin moved quickly up to him.

From the colt pasture to the swimming tank Graham talked with his hostess and rode as nearly beside her as The Fop's wickedness permitted, while Dick and Hennessy, on ahead, were deep in ranch business. "Insomnia has been a handicap all my life," she said, while she tickled The Fop with a spur in order to check a threatened belligerence.