at the bank for example, but this was Sir Godfrey's fault, she
explained. "He never would help me with any of this business," she
said. "I've had to add sometimes for HOURS. But, of course, you
are a man, and when you've looked through it all, I know you'll
understand."

He did look through it enough to see that it was undesirable that he
should understand too explicitly, and, anyhow, he was manifestly
very well off indeed, and the circumstances of the case, even as he
understood them, would have made any businesslike book-keeping
ungracious. The bankers submitted the corroborating account of
securities, and he found himself possessed of his unconditional six
thousand a year, with, as she put it, "the world at his feet." On
the whole it seemed more wonderful to him now than when he had first
heard of it. He kissed her and thanked her, and left the portfolio
open for Merkle's entirely honest and respectful but very exact
inspection, and walked back with her to Desborough Street, and all
the while he was craving to ask the one tremendous question he knew
he would never ask, which was just how exactly this beneficent Nolan
came in. . . .

Once or twice in the small hours, and on a number of other
occasions, this unspeakable riddle assumed a portentous predominance
in his mind. He was forced back upon his inner consciousness for
its consideration. He could discuss it with nobody else, because
that would have been discussing his mother.

Probably most young men who find themselves with riches at large in
the world have some such perplexity as this mixed in with the gift.
Such men as the Cecils perhaps not, because they are in the order of