He began by raising his head and smiling with a strange and new benignity--but Elsie thought of her portrait. 'We are all one family here,' he said; 'and I may talk. I want to tell you of a very remarkable thing that has recently happened to me. It has been growing, I now perceive, for some years. But it now holds me strongly, and it is one reason why I am anxious to have the affairs of the House in the hands of a younger man. For it may be a sign of the end. At seventy-five anything uncommon may be a sign.' 'You look well, Mr. Dering, and as strong as most men of sixty,' said Mrs. Arundel. 'Perhaps. I feel well and strong. The fact is that I am troubled--or pleased--or possessed--by an Illusion.' 'You with an Illusion?' said his brother. 'I myself. An Illusion possesses me. It whispers me from time to time that my life is wholly spent in promoting the happiness of other people.' 'Well,' said his brother, 'since you are a first-class solicitor, and manage the affairs of many people very much to their advantage, you certainly do promote their happiness.' 'Yes, yes--I suppose so. My Illusion further is that it is done outside my business--without any bill afterwards'--Checkley looked up with eyes wide open--'I am made to believe that I am working and living for the good of others. A curious Illusion, is it not?' The City man shook his head. 'That any man can possibly live for the good of others is, I take it, always and under all circumstances an Illusion. In the present state of society--and a very admirable state it is'--he rolled his bald head as he spoke and his voice had a rich roll in it--'a man's first duty--his second duty--his third duty--his hundredth duty--is to himself. In the City it is his business to amass wealth--to roll it up--roll it up'--he expressed the words with feeling--'to invest it profitably--to watch it, and to nurse it as it fructifies--fructifies. Afterwards, when he is rich enough, if ever a man can be rich enough, he may exercise as much charity as he pleases--as he pleases. Charity seems to please some people as a glass of fine wine'--he illustrated the comparison--'pleases the palate--pleases the palate.' The lawyer listened politely and inclined his head.