being laden at the wharf； and on another took me with him to a sale of
furs that came from the far north where I was told the snow never
melts and there is always ice in the sea。
Also he made me known to merchants with whom he traded； and to his
agents who were many； though for the most part secret； together with
other goldsmiths who held moneys of his； and in a sense were partners；
forming a kind of company so that they could find great sums in sudden
need。 Lastly； his clerks and dependents were made to understand that
if I gave an order it must be obeyed； though this did not happen until
I had been with him for some time。
Thus it came about that within a year I knew all the threads of John
Grimmer's great business； and within two it drifted more and more into
my hands。 The last part of it with which he made me acquainted was
that of lending money to those in high places； and even to the State
itself； but at length I was taught this also and came to know sundry
of these men； who in private were humble borrowers； but if they met us
in the street passed us with the nod that the great give to their
inferiors。 Then my uncle would bow low； keeping his eyes fixed upon
the ground and bid me do the same。 But when they were out of hearing
he would chuckle and say；
〃Fish in my net； goldfish in my net！ See how they shine who presently
must wriggle on the shore。 Vanity of vanities！ All is vanity； and
doubtless Solomon knew such in his day。〃
Hard I worked； and ever harder； toiling at the mill of all these large
affairs and keeping myself in health during such time as I could spare
by shooting at the butts with my big bow where I found that none could
beat me； or practising sword play in a school of arms that was kept by
a master of the craft from Italy。 Also on holidays and on Sundays
after mass I rode out of London to visit my uncle's estates where
sometimes I slept a night； and once or twice sailed to Holland or to
Calais with his cargoes。
One day； it was when I had been with him about eighteen months； he
said to me suddenly。
〃You plough the field； Hubert； and do not tithe the crop； but live
upon the bounty of the husbandman。 Henceforward take as much of it as
you will。 I ask no account。〃
So I found myself rich； though in truth I spent but little； both
because my tastes were simple and it was part of my uncle's policy to
make no show which he said would bring envy on us。 From this time
forward he began to withdraw himself from business； the truth being
that age took hold of him and he grew feeble。 The highest of the
affairs he left to me； only inquiring of them and giving his counsel
from time to time。 Still； because he must do something； he busied
himself in the shop which； as he said； he kept as a trap for the
birds； chaffering in ornaments and furs as though his bread depended
upon his earning a gold piece； and directing the manufacture of
beautiful jewels and cups which he； who was an artist； designed to be
made by his skilled and highly paid workmen； some of whom were
foreigners。
〃We end where we began；〃 he would say。 〃A smith was I from my
childhood and a smith I shall die。 What a fate for one of the blood of
Thorgrimmer！ Yet I am selling you into the same bondage； or so it
would seem。 But who knows？ Who knows？ We design； but God decrees。〃
It is to be noted that when old men cease from the occupation of their
lives； often enough within a very little time they also cease from
life itself。 So it was with my uncle。 Day by day he faded till at last
at the beginning of the third winter after I came to him he took to
his bed where he lay growing ever weaker till at length he died in the
hour of the birth of the new year。
To the last his mind remained clear and strong； and never more so than
on the night of his death。 That evening after I had eaten I went to
his room as usual and found him reading a beautiful manuscript of the
book of the Wisdom of Solomon that is called Ecclesiastes； a work
which he preferred to all others； since its thoughts were his。 〃I
gathered me also silver and gold and the peculiar treasures of kings；〃
he read aloud； whether to himself or to me I knew not； and went on；
〃So I was great； and increased more than all that were before me。
。 。 。 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought； and on
the labour that I had laboured to do； and behold all was vanity and
vexation of spirit； and there was no profit under the sun。〃
He closed the book； saying；
〃So shall you find； Nephew； you； and every man in the evil days of age
when you shall say； 'I have no pleasure in them。' Hubert； I am going
to my long home； nor do I grieve。 In youth I met with sorrow； for
though I have never told you； I was married then and had one son； a
bright boy； and oh！ I loved him and his mother。 Then came the plague
and took them both。 So having naught left and being by nature one of
those who could wean himself from women； which I fear that you are
not； Hubert； noting all the misery there is in the world and how those
who are called noble whom I hate； grind down the humble and the poor；
I turned myself to good works。 Half of all my gains I have given and
still give to those who minister to poverty and sickness； you will
find a list of them when I am gone should you wish to continue the
bounty； as to which I do not desire to bind you in any way。 For know；
Hubert； that I have left you all that is mine； the gold and the ships
with the movables and chattels to be your own； but the lands which are
the main wealth； for life and afterwards to be your children's； or if
you should die childless； then to go to certain hospitals where the
sick are tended。〃
Now I would have thanked him； but he waved my words aside and went on：
〃You will be a very rich man； Hubert； one of the richest in all
London； yet set not your heart on wealth； and above all do not ape
nobility or strive to climb from the honest class of which you come
into the ranks of those idle and dissolute cut…throats and pick…brains
who are called the great。 Lighten their pockets if you will； but do
not seek to wear their silken； scented garments。 That is my counsel to
you。〃
He paused a while； picking at the bedclothes as the dying do； and
continued；
〃You told me that your mother thought you would be a wanderer； and it
is strange that now my mind should be as hers was in this matter。 For
I seem to see you far away amidst war and love and splendour； holding
Wave…Flame aloft as did that Thorgrimmer who begat us。 Well； go where
you are called or as occasion drives； though you have much to keep you
at home。 I would that you were wed； since marriage is an anchor that
few ships can drag。 Yet I am not sure； for how know I whom you should
wed； and once that anchor is down no windlass will wind it up and
death alone can cut its chain。 One word more。 Though you are so young
and strong remember that as I am； so shall you be。 To…day for me；
to…morrow for thee； said the wise old man； and thus it ever was and
is。
〃Hubert； I do not know why we are born to struggle and to suffer and
at last be noosed with the rope of Doom。 Yet I hope the priests are
right and that we live again； though Solomon thought not so； that is；
if we live where there is neither sin nor sorrow nor fear of death。 If
so； be sure that in some new land we shall meet afresh； and there I
shall ask account of you of the wealth I entrusted to your keeping。
Think of me kindly at times； for I have learned to love you who are of
my blood； and while we live on in the hearts of those we love； we are
not truly dead。 Come hither that I may bless you in your coming in and
going out while you still look upon the sun。〃
So he blessed me in beautiful and tender words； and kissed me on the
brow； after which he bade me leave him and send the woman to watch
him； because he desired to sleep。
When she looked at him at midnight just as the bells rang in the new
year； he was dead。
According to his wish John Grimmer； the last of that name； was buried
by the bones of his forgotten wife and child； who had left the world
over fifty years before； in the chancel of that church in the Cheap
which was within a stone's throw of his dwelling house。 By his desire
also the funeral was without pomp； yet many came to it； some of them
of high distinction； although the day was cold and snowy。 I noted；
moreover； the deference they showed to me who by now was known to be
his heir； even if they had never spoken with me before； as was the
case with certain of them； taking occasion to draw me aside and say
that they trusted that their ancient friendship with my honoured uncle
would be continued by myself。
Afterwards I looked up their names in his private book and found that
one and all of those who had spoken thus owed moneys to his estate。
When the will was sworn and I found myself the master of many legions；
or rather of more money； land； and other wealth than I had ever
dreamed of； at first I was minded to be rid of trade and to take up my
abode upon one or other of my manors； where I might live in plenty for
the rest of my days。 In the end； however； I did not do so； partly
because I shrank from new face