_David_: "No. I hardly came about that; though dear old Praddy, I wish I had time to look after you ... Perhaps later.... No: what I came to ask was: what _did_ you mean the other day by paying in a Thousand Pounds to Vivie Warren's account at her bank? She's not in want of money so far as I know, and you can't be so very rich, even though you design three millionaire's houses a year. Who gave you the money to pay in to my--to Vivie's account?" _Praed_: "Well, when Vivie herself comes to ask me, p'raps I'll tell; but I can't see how it concerns _you_. Why not stop and dine--a l'imprevu, but I dare say my housekeeper can rake something together or it may not be too late to send out for a pate. We can then talk of other things. When are you going to get your call?" _David_: "Sorry, dear old chap, but I can't stay to dinner. I'm not going anywhere else but I've got some papers I _must_ study before I go to bed. But I'll stop another half-hour at any rate. Don't ring for lights or turn up the electric lamps. I would sooner sit in the dark studio and put my question. Who has given me that thousand pounds?" _Praed_: "That's _my_ business: _I_ haven't! I shan't give or lend Vivie a penny till she consents to marry me. As to the rest, take it and be thankful. You're not certain to get any more and I happen to know it had what you would call a 'clean origin.'" _David_: "You mean it didn't come from those 'Hotels'?" _Praed_: "Well, at any rate not directly. Don't be a romantic ass, a tiresome fool, and give me any trouble about it. A certain person I imagine must have heard that _Fraser and Warren_ had been wound up and couldn't bear the thought of your being hard up in consequence ... doesn't know you got a share of the purchase-money..." * * * * * David decided at any rate for the present to accept the addition to his capital--you can perhaps push principle _too_ far; or, once you plunge into affairs, you cease to be quite so high-souled. At any rate nothing in David's middle-class mind was so horrible as penury and the impotence that comes with it. How many months or years would lie ahead of him before fees could be gained and a professional income be earned? Besides he wanted to take Bertie Adams into his service as a Clerk. A barrister must have a clerk, and David in his peculiar circumstances could only engage one acquainted more or less with his secret.