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In one year I got the partnership with a small share in the
large profits of the business。 In two the partner above me
retired； and I took his place with a third share of the firm。 In
three my cousin； satisfied that it was in able hands； began to
cease his attendance at the office and betook himself to
gardening which was his hobby。 In four I paid him out altogether；
although to do this I had to borrow money on our credit； for by
agreement the title of the firm was continued。 Then came that
extraordinary time of boom which many will remember to their
cost。 I made a bold stroke and won。 On a certain Saturday when
the books were made up； I found that after discharging all
liabilities； I should not be worth more than ？0；000。 On the
following Saturday but two when the books were made up； I was
worth ？53；000！ L'appetit vient en mangeant。 It seemed nothing
to me when so many were worth millions。
For the next year I worked as few have done； and when I struck
a balance at the end of it； I found that on the most conservative
estimate I was the owner of a million and a half in hard cash； or
its equivalent。 I was so tired out that I remember this discovery
did not excite me at all。 I felt utterly weary of all wealth…
hunting and of the City and its ways。 Moreover my old
fastidiousness and lack of perseverance re…asserted themselves。 I
reflected； rather late in the day perhaps； on the ruin that this
speculation was bringing to thousands； of which some lamentable
instances had recently come to my notice； and once more
considered whether it were a suitable career for an upright man。
I had wealth； why should I not take it and enjoy life？
Alsoand here my business acumen came in； I was sure that
these times could not last。 It is easy to make money on a rising
market； but when it is falling the matter is very different。 In
five minutes I made up my mind。 I sent for my junior partners；
for I had taken in two； and told them that I intended to retire
at once。 They were dismayed both at my loss； for really I was the
firm； and because； as they pointed out； if I withdrew all my
capital； there would not be sufficient left to enable them to
carry on。
One of them； a blunt and honest man； said to my face that it
would be dishonourable of me to do so。 I was inclined to answer
him sharply； then remembered that his words were true。
〃Very well；〃 I said； 〃I will leave you ？00；000 on which you
shall pay me five per cent interest； but no share of the
profits。〃
On these terms we dissolved the partnership and in a year they
had lost the ？00；000； for the slump came with a vengeance。 It
saved them； however； and to…day they are earning a reasonable
income。 But I have never asked them for that ？00；000。
Chapter II
Bastin and Bickley
Behold me once more a man without an occupation； but now the
possessor of about ？00；000。 It was a very considerable fortune；
if not a large one in England； nothing like the millions of which
I had dreamed； but still enough。 To make the most of it and to
be sure that it remained； I invested it very well； mostly in
large mortgages at four per cent which； if the security is good；
do not depreciate in capital value。 Never again did I touch a
single speculative stock； who desired to think no more about
money。 It was at this time that I bought the Fulcombe property。
It cost me about ？20；000 of my capital； or with alterations；
repairs； etc。； say ？50；000； on which sum it may pay a net two
and a half per cent； not more。
This ？；700 odd I have always devoted to the upkeep of the
place； which is therefore in first…rate order。 The rest I live
on； or save。
These arrangements； with the beautifying and furnishing of the
house and the restoration of the church in memory of my father；
occupied and amused me for a year or so； but when they were
finished time began to hang heavy on my hands。 What was the use
of possessing about ？0；000 a year when there was nothing upon
which it could be spent？ For after all my own wants were few and
simple and the acquisition of valuable pictures and costly
furniture is limited by space。 Oh！ in my small way I was like
the weary King Ecclesiast。 For I too made me great works and had
possessions of great and small cattle （I tried farming and lost
money over it！） and gathered me silver and gold and the peculiar
treasure of kings； which I presume means whatever a man in
authority chiefly desires； and so forth。 But 〃behold all was
vanity and vexation of spirit； and there was no profit under the
sun。〃
So； notwithstanding my wealth and health and the deference
which is the rich man's portion； especially when the limit of his
riches is not known； it came about that I too 〃hated life；〃 and
this when I was not much over thirty。 I did not know what to do；
for Society as the word is generally understood； I had no taste；
it bored me； horse…racing and cards I loathed； who had already
gambled too much on a big scale。 The killing of creatures under
the name of sport palled upon me； indeed I began to doubt if it
were right； while the office of a junior county magistrate in a
place where there was no crime； only occupied me an hour or two a
month。
Lastly my neighbours were few and with all due deference to
them； extremely dull。 At least I could not understand them
because in them there did not seem to be anything to understand；
and I am quite certain that they did not understand me。 More；
when they came to learn that I was radical in my views and had
written certain 〃dreadful〃 and somewhat socialistic books in the
form of fiction； they both feared and mistrusted me as an enemy
to their particular section of the race。 As I had not married and
showed no inclination to do so； their womenkind also； out of
their intimate knowledge； proclaimed that I led an immoral life；
though a little reflection would have shown them that there was
no one in the neighbourhood which for a time I seldom left； who
could possibly have tempted an educated creature to such courses。
Terrible is the lot of a man who； while still young and
possessing the intellect necessary to achievement； is deprived of
all ambition。 And I had none at all。 I did not even wish to
purchase a peerage or a baronetcy in this fashion or in that；
and； as in my father's case； my tastes were so many and so
catholic that I could not lose myself in any one of them。 They
never became more than diversions to me。 A hobby is only really
amusing when it becomes an obsession。
At length my lonesome friendliness oppressed me so much that I
took steps to mitigate it。 In my college life I had two
particular friends whom I think I must have selected because they
were so absolutely different from myself。
They were named Bastin and Bickley。 BastinBasil was his
Christian namewas an uncouth； shock…headed； flat…footed person
of large； rugged frame and equally rugged honesty； with a mind
almost incr