t the necessity of seeing his uncle before he took any actual steps
secured him from the necessity of coming to any absolutely immediate
decision. He and Harcourt were together for three or four days, and
he listened not unmoved to his friend's eloquence in favour of public
life in London. Not unmoved, indeed, but always with a spirit of
antagonism. When Harcourt told of forensic triumphs, Bertram spoke of
the joy of some rustic soul saved to heaven in the quiet nook of a
distant parish. When his friend promised to him Parliament, and the
later glories of the ermine, he sighed after literary fame, to be
enjoyed among the beauties of nature. But Harcourt understood all
this: he did not wish to convince his friend, but only to lead him.

Mr. George Bertram senior was a notable man in the city of London. I
am not prepared to say what was his trade, or even whether he had one
properly so called. But there was no doubt about his being a moneyed
man, and one well thought of on 'Change. At the time of which I
write, he was a director of the Bank of England, chairman of a
large insurance company, was deep in water, far gone in gas, and an
illustrious potentate in railway interests. I imagine that he had
neither counting-house, shop, nor ware-rooms: but he was not on that
account at a loss whither to direct his steps; and those who knew
city ways knew very well where to meet Mr. George Bertram senior
between the hours of eleven and five.

He was ten years older than his brother, Sir Lionel, and at the time
of which I write might be about seventy. He was still unmarried, and
in this respect had always been regarded by Sir Lionel as a fountain
from whence his own son might fairly expect such waters as were
necessary for his present maintenance and future well-being. But Mr.
George Bertram senior had regarded the matter in a different light.
He had paid no shilling on account of his nephew, or on other
accounts appertaining to his brother, which he had not scored down
as so much debt against Sir Lionel, duly debiting the amount with
current interest; and statements of this account were periodically
sent to Sir Lionel by Mr. Bertram's man of business,--and
periodically thrown aside by Sir Lionel, as being of no moment
whatsoever.

When Mr. Bertram had paid the bill due by his brother to Mr.
Wilkinson, there was outstanding some family unsettled claim from
which the two brothers might, or might not, obtain some small sums
of mone