LXXXVI.

There were four Honourable Misters, whose Honour was more before their names than after; There was the _preux Chevalier de la Ruse_,[689] Whom France and Fortune lately deigned to waft here, Whose chiefly harmless talent was to amuse; But the clubs found it rather serious laughter, Because--such was his magic power to please-- The dice seemed charmed, too, with his repartees.