added Fairthorn, with an air of great pride. "I ought to know; I write
all his letters on money matters. How much do you think he has, without
counting land?"

"I cannot guess."

"Nearly half a million; in two years it will be more than half a million.
And he had not three hundred a year when he began life; for Fawley was
sadly mortgaged."

"Is it possible! Could any lawyer make half a million at the bar?"

"If any man could, Mr. Darrell would. When he sets his mind on a thing,
the thing is done; no help for it. But his fortune was not all made at
the bar, though a great part of it was. An old East Indian bachelor of
the same name, but who had never been heard of hereabouts till he wrote
from Calcutta to Mr. Darrell (inquiring if they were any relation, and
Mr. Darrell referred him to the College-at-Arms, which proved that they
came from the same stock ages ago), left him all his money. Mr. Darrell
was not dependent on his profession when he stood up in Parliament. And
since we have been here, such savings! Not that Mr. Darrell is
avaricious, but how can he spend money in this place? You should have
seen the establishment we kept in Carlton Gardens. Such a cook too,
--a French gentleman, looked like a marquis. Those were happy days, and
proud ones! It is true that I order the dinner here, but it can't be the
same thing. Do you like fillet of veal?--we have one to-day."

"We used to have fillet of veal at school on Sundays. I thought it good
then."