'It depends,' replied the salesman, withdrawing his cheroot. 'The
power of money is an article of faith in which I profess myself a
sceptic. A hundred pounds will with difficulty support you for a
year; with somewhat more difficulty you may spend it in a night;
and without any difficulty at all you may lose it in five minutes
on the Stock Exchange. If you are of that stamp of man that rises,
a penny would be as useful; if you belong to those that fall, a
penny would be no more useless. When I was myself thrown
unexpectedly upon the world, it was my fortune to possess an art:
I knew a good cigar. Do you know nothing, Mr. Somerset?'

'Not even law,' was the reply.

'The answer is worthy of a sage,' returned Mr. Godall. 'And you,
sir,' he continued, turning to Challoner, 'as the friend of Mr.
Somerset, may I be allowed to address you the same question?'

'Well,' replied Challoner, 'I play a fair hand at whist.'

'How many persons are there in London,' returned the salesman, 'who
have two-and-thirty teeth? Believe me, young gentleman, there are
more still who play a fair hand at whist. Whist, sir, is wide as
the world; 'tis an accomplishment like breathing. I once knew a
youth who announced that he was studying to be Chancellor of
England; the design was certainly ambitious; but I find it less
excessive than that of the man who aspires to make a livelihood by
whist.'

'Dear me,' said Challoner, 'I am afraid I shall have to fall to be