By now I had grown savage and cynical, rather revengeful also, Ifear.Knowing myself to possess considerable abilities in sundry directions, I sat down, as it were, to think things over and digest my past experiences.Then it was that the truth of a very ancient adage struck upon my mind, namely, that money is power.
Had I sufficient money I could laugh at unjust critics for example; indeed they or their papers would scarcely dare to criticise me for fear lest it should be in my power to do them a bad turn.Again I could follow my own ideas in life and perhaps work good in the world, and live in such surroundings as commended themselves to me.It was as clear as daylight, but--how to make the money?
I had some capital as the result of my father's death, about ?,000 in all, plus a little more that my two books had brought in.In what way could I employ it to the best advantage? Iremembered that a cousin of my father and therefore my own, was a successful stock-broker, also that there had been some affection between them.I went to him, he was a good, easy-natured man who was frankly glad to see me, and offered to put ?,000 into his business, for I was not minded to risk every thing I had, if he would give me a share in the profits.He laughed heartily at my audacity.
"Why, my boy," he said, "being totally inexperienced at this game, you might lose us more than that in a month.But I like your courage, I like your courage, and the truth is that I do want help.I will think it over and write to you."He thought it over and in the end offered to try me for a year at a fixed salary with a promise of some kind of a partnership if I suited him.Meanwhile my ?,000 remained in my pocket.
I accepted, not without reluctance since with the impatience of youth I wanted everything at once.I worked hard in that office and soon mastered the business, for my knowledge of figures--Ihad taken a first-class mathematical degree at college--came to my aid, as in a way did my acquaintance with Law and Literature.
Moreover I had a certain aptitude for what is called high finance.Further, Fortune, as usual, showed me a favourable face.
In one year I got the partnership with a small share in the large profits of the business.In two the partner above me retired, and I took his place with a third share of the firm.In three my cousin, satisfied that it was in able hands, began to cease his attendance at the office and betook himself to gardening which was his hobby.In four I paid him out altogether, although to do this I had to borrow money on our credit, for by agreement the title of the firm was continued.Then came that extraordinary time of boom which many will remember to their cost.I made a bold stroke and won.On a certain Saturday when the books were made up, I found that after discharging all liabilities, I should not be worth more than ?0,000.On the following Saturday but two when the books were made up, I was worth ?53,000! L'appetit vient en mangeant.It seemed nothing to me when so many were worth millions.
For the next year I worked as few have done, and when I struck a balance at the end of it, I found that on the most conservative estimate I was the owner of a million and a half in hard cash, or its equivalent.I was so tired out that I remember this discovery did not excite me at all.I felt utterly weary of all wealth-hunting and of the City and its ways.Moreover my old fastidiousness and lack of perseverance re-asserted themselves.Ireflected, rather late in the day perhaps, on the ruin that this speculation was bringing to thousands, of which some lamentable instances had recently come to my notice, and once more considered whether it were a suitable career for an upright man.
I had wealth; why should I not take it and enjoy life?
Also--and here my business acumen came in, I was sure that these times could not last.It is easy to make money on a rising market, but when it is falling the matter is very different.In five minutes I made up my mind.I sent for my junior partners, for I had taken in two, and told them that I intended to retire at once.They were dismayed both at my loss, for really I was the firm, and because, as they pointed out, if I withdrew all my capital, there would not be sufficient left to enable them to carry on.
One of them, a blunt and honest man, said to my face that it would be dishonourable of me to do so.I was inclined to answer him sharply, then remembered that his words were true.
"Very well," I said, "I will leave you ?00,000 on which you shall pay me five per cent interest, but no share of the profits."On these terms we dissolved the partnership and in a year they had lost the ?00,000, for the slump came with a vengeance.It saved them, however, and to-day they are earning a reasonable income.But I have never asked them for that ?00,000.