the young man went on in a more animated manner.

"There is every reason why I should not tell you my story. Perhaps that
is just the reason why I am going to do so. At least, you seem so well
prepared to hear a tale of silliness that I cannot find it in my heart
to disappoint you. My name, in spite of your example, I shall keep to
myself. My age is not essential to the narrative. I am descended from my
ancestors by ordinary generation, and from them I inherited the very
eligible human tenement which I still occupy and a fortune of three
hundred pounds a year. I suppose they also handed on to me a harebrain
humour, which it has been my chief delight to indulge. I received a good
education. I can play the violin nearly well enough to earn money in the
orchestra of a penny gaff, but not quite. The same remark applies to the
flute and the French horn. I learned enough of whist to lose about a
hundred a year at that scientific game. My acquaintance with French was
sufficient to enable me to squander money in Paris with almost the same
facility as in London. In short, I am a person full of manly
accomplishments. I have had every sort of adventure, including a duel
about nothing. Only two months ago I met a young lady exactly suited to
my taste in mind and body; I found my heart melt; I saw that I had come
upon my fate at last, and was in the way to fall in love. But when I
came to reckon up what remained to me of my capital, I found it amounted
to something less than four hundred pounds! I ask you fairly--can a man
who respects himself fall in love on four hundred pounds? I concluded,
certainly not; left the presence of my charmer, and slightly
accelerating my usual rate of expenditure, came this morning to my last
eighty pounds. This I divided into two equal parts; forty I reserved for
a particular purpose; the remaining forty I was to dissipate before the
night. I have passed a very entertaining day, and played many farces
besides that of the cream tarts which procured me the advantage of your
acquaintance; for I was determined, as I told you, to bring a foolish
career to a still more foolish conclusion; and when you saw me throw my
purse into the street the forty pounds were at an end. Now you know me
as well as I know myself: a fool, but consistent in his folly; and, as I
will ask you to believe, neither a whimperer nor a coward."

From the whole tone of the young man's statement it was plain that he
harboured very bitt