The door opened, and the young man drew politely back to give Miss Grey
the first chance. She asked for Miss Lucy Money, and the porter rang a
bell for one of Mr. Money's servants. Miss Grey had brought a card with
her, on which she had written over her engraved name, "For Lucy Money,"
and beneath it, "Nola," the short rendering of "Minola," which they used
to adopt at school.
Then the porter looked inquiringly at the other visitor.
"If Mr. Money is at home," said the latter, "I should be glad to see
him. I find I have forgotten my card case, but my name is Heron--Mr.
Victor Heron; and do, please, try to remember it, and to say it
rightly."
CHAPTER V.
MISS GREY'S FIRST CALL.
Mr. Money's home, like Mr. Money himself, conveyed to the intelligent
observer an idea of quiet, self-satisfied strength. Mr. Money had one of
the finest and most expensive suites of rooms to be had in the great
Victoria street buildings, and his rooms were furnished handsomely and
richly. He had servants in sober livery, and a carriage for his wife and
daughters, and a little brougham for himself. He made no pretence at
being fashionable; rather indeed seemed to say deliberately, "I am a
plain man and don't care twopence about fashion, and I despise making a
show of being rich; but I am rich enough for all I want, and whatever
money can buy for me I can buy." He would not allow his wife and
daughters to aim at being persons of fashion had they been so inclined,
but they might spend as much money as ever they pleased. He never made a
boast of his original poverty, or the humbleness of his bringing up, nor
put on any vulgar show of rugged independence. The impression he made
upon everybody was that of a completely self-sufficing--we do not say
self-sufficient--man. It was not very clear how he had made his money.
He had been at the head of one of the working departments under the
Government, had somehow fancied himself ill treated, resigned his place,
and, it was understood, had entered into various contracts to do work
for the governments of foreign States. It was certain that Mr. Money was
not a speculator. His name never appeared in the directors' list of any
new company. He could not be called a city man. But it was certain that
he was rich.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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