"Paul Clifford", Chapter 32, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Lose I not
With him what fortune could in life allot?
Lose I not hope, life's cordial?
..............
In fact, the lessons he from prudence took
Were written in his mind as in a book;
There what to do he read, and what to shun,
And all commanded was with promptness done.
He seemed without a passion to proceed,
..............
Yet some believed those passions only slept!
CRABBE.

Relics of love, and life's enchanted spring!
A. WATTS: On burning a Packet of Letters.

Many and sad and deep
Were the thoughts folded in thy silent breast!
Thou, too, could'st watch and weep!
MRS. HEMANS.

----

Well this chapter was rather an unexpected bit of backstory! I know it has been hinted at here and there up to now, but I wasn't expecting to get so much of it!

"We make
A ladder of our thoughts where angels step,
But sleep ourselves at the foot!"
[The History of the Lyre, by L. E. L.]

domino and mask: The mask in this context is the sort that only covers the eyes and nothing else (think Zorro!). A domino is a long loose hooded cloak typically worn with such a mask. This combination was typically worn for masquerade balls.

casuist: a couple possible definitions, all in a similar vein but subtly different, so you pick the one you think fits best here: 1) an oversubtle or disingenuous reasoner, especially in questions of morality, a sophist, or 2) a person who studies and resolves moral problems of judgment or conduct arising in specific situations.

anguis in herba: snake in the grass

lenity: kindness; gentleness

In the section about his time at university, the reference to "hats" and "caps" comes with this footnote from the author: At Cambridge the sons of noblemen and the eldest sons of baronets are allowed to wear hats instead of the academical cap.

sizar: an undergraduate at Cambridge University or at Trinity College, Dublin, receiving financial help from the college and formerly having certain menial duties.

Dulcinea: mistress or sweetheart. In this case, as the word comes into English from the Spanish (via Don Quixote), the 'c' gets a soft 's' sound and not the harder 'ch' you would expect with Latin or Italian.

The picture used is "Harewood House The Old Library", located in Harewood, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK, taken by Michael D Beckwith

You gotta figure Sir Brandon, being a rich lawyer, would have a fancy library, yes? Of course, Harewood House is far bigger than any residence you'd expect to find in London, but there's no reason why a good library can't be found in a smaller building, eh? And a lawyer or judge would definitely need a good library in support of their work.

To follow along: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7735/7735-h/7735-h.htm#link2HCH0032