"I really don't know. Just now that I am with him he has a smaller one
than usual."

"Ah yes. When you are separated I suppose you write volumes to each
other. But he must have a great many business letters."

"It is very likely," said Bernard. "And if he has, you may be sure he
writes them."

"Order and method!" Mrs. Vivian exclaimed. "With his immense property
those virtues are necessary."

Bernard glanced at her a moment.

"My dear Lovelock," he said to himself, "you are not such a fool as you
seem.--Gordon's virtues are always necessary, doubtless," he went on.
"But should you say his property was immense?"

Mrs. Vivian made a delicate little movement of deprecation. "Oh, don't
ask me to say! I know nothing about it; I only supposed he was rich."

"He is rich; but he is not a Croesus."

"Oh, you fashionable young men have a standard of luxury!" said Mrs.
Vivian, with a little laugh. "To a poverty-stricken widow such a fortune
as Mr. Wright's seems magnificent."

"Don't call me such horrible names!" exclaimed Bernard. "Our friend has
certainly money enough and to spare."