"I suppose I should congratulate you,"--he said--"And I do. Though of course this wealth which seems to content you, to me appears a mere trifle. It can be quite conveniently run through and exhausted in about eight years or less, therefore it does not provide absolute immunity from care. To be rich, really rich, in my sense of the word, one should have about a million a year. Then one might reasonably hope to escape the workhouse!" He laughed,--and I stared at him stupidly, not knowing how to take his words, whether as truth or idle boasting. Five millions of money a mere trifle! He went on without apparently noticing my amazement-- "The inexhaustible greed of a man, my dear sir, can never be satisfied. If he is not consumed by desire for one thing, he is for another, and his tastes are generally expensive. A few pretty and unscrupulous women for example, would soon relieve you of your five millions in the purchase of jewels alone. Horse-racing would do it still more quickly. No, no,--you are not rich,--you are still poor,--only your needs are no longer so pressing as they were. And in this I confess myself somewhat disappointed,--for I came to you hoping to do a good turn to some one for once in my life, and to play the foster-father to a rising genius--and here I am--forestalled,--as usual! It is a singular thing, do you know, but nevertheless a fact, that whenever I have had any particular intentions towards a man I am always forestalled! It is really rather hard upon me!" He broke off and raised his head in a listening attitude. "What is that?" he asked. It was the violinist next door playing a well-known "Ave Maria." I told him so. "Dismal,--very dismal!" he said with a contemptuous shrug. "I hate all that kind of mawkish devotional stuff. Well!--millionaire as you are, and acknowledged lion of society as you shortly will be, there is no objection I hope, to the proposed supper? And perhaps a music-hall afterwards if you feel inclined,--what do you say?" He clapped me on the shoulder cordially and looked straight into my face,--those wonderful eyes of his, suggestive of both tears and fire, fixed me with a clear masterful gaze that completely dominated me. I made no attempt to resist the singular attraction which now possessed me for this man whom I had but just met,--the sensation was too strong and too pleasant to be combated. Only for one moment more I hesitated, looking down at my shabby attire. "I am not fit to accompany you, prince," I said--"I look more like a tramp than a millionaire." He glanced at me and smiled.