He modestly admitted the degrading truth.

From his childhood upwards, he had only to put his hand in his pocket, and to find the money there, without any preliminary necessity of earning it first.

His father had been a fashionable portrait-painter, and had married one of his sitters--an heiress.

Oscar and Nugent had been left in the detestable position of independent gentlemen.

The dignity of labor was a dignity unknown to these degraded young men.