text:  The prettinesses which had won the primrose heart of my brother's intended spouse I found were equally notorious; the Earl's project was as plain as if he had pronounced it _viva voce_; and before we parted for the night which did not occur until the sun was blazing through the curtains of our banqueting room I had made up my mind once for all that neither character nor cunning can be concealed in this world; that the craftiest impostor is but a clumsier kind of clown; and that the most dexterous disguise is but a waste of time