Chapter 23: Space Between an Heroick Couplet

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​⁠A discouraging fact for the Persii of yesterday, to-day, and to-morrow, is that, however needle-sharp their thrusted rapiers, however thorough their castigations, Society never shows weal or scar at the end of it all.

Here was profligate, card-playing, snobbish, vapoured Society, quite recovered of its whipping and, by candletime, setting out to perform, just those very actions Persius most bitterl