great house where I find myself in a congenial atmosphere. It is homely
to me. I can read here and smoke my pipe in peace. Anything like
luxury is abhorrent to me."

"Really, I should not have though it," observed Robert.

"It is a fact, I assure you. You see, even with your views as to the
worthlessness of wealth, views which, I am sure, are very sensible and
much to your credit, you must allow that if a man should happen to be
the possessor of vast--well, let us say of considerable--sums of money,
it is his duty to get that money into circulation, so that the community
may be the better for it. There is the secret of my fine feathers.
I have to exert all my ingenuity in order to spend my income, and yet
keep the money in legitimate channels. For example, it is very easy to
give money away, and no doubt I could dispose of my surplus, or part of
my surplus, in that fashion, but I have no wish to pauperise anyone, or
to do mischief by indiscriminate charity. I must exact some sort of
money's worth for all the money which I lay out You see my point, don't
you?"

"Entirely; though really it is something novel to hear a man complain of
the difficulty of spending his income."

"I assure you that it is a very serious difficulty with me. But I have
hit upon some plans--some very pretty plans. Will you wash your hands?
Well, then, perhaps you would care to have a look round. Just come into
this corner of the room, and sit upon this chair. So. Now I will sit
upon this one, and we are ready to start."

The angle of the chamber in which they sat was painted for about six