But the private secretary would do neither; and, nevertheless, there he was, still private secretary.

"It's because Johnny has got money," said one of the young clerks, who was discussing this singular state of things with his brethren at the office.

"When a chap has got money, he may do what he likes.

Johnny has got lots of money, you know." The young clerk in question was by no means on intimate terms with Mr.Eames, but there had grown up in the office a way of calling him Johnny behind his back, which had probably come down from the early days of his scrapes and his poverty.
Now the entire life of Mr.John Eames was pervaded by a great secret; and although he never, in those days, alluded to the subject in conversation with any man belonging to the office, yet the secret was known to them all.

It had been historical for the last four or five years, and was now regarded as a thing of course.