CHAPTER III.
ANIMUM nunc hoc celerem, nunc dividit illuc.*--VIRGIL.
* "Now this, now that, distracts the active mind." THE late Mr.Templeton had been a banker in a provincial town, which was the centre of great commercial and agricultural activity and enterprise.
He had made the bulk of his fortune in the happy days of paper currency and war.

Besides his country bank he had a considerable share in a metropolitan one of some eminence.

At the time of his marriage with the present Lady Vargrave he retired altogether from business, and never returned to the place in which his wealth had been amassed.

He had still kept up a familiar acquaintance with the principal and senior partner of the metropolitan bank I have referred to; for he was a man who always loved to talk about money matters with those who understood them.
This gentleman, Mr.Gustavus Douce, had been named, with Lumley, joint trustee to Evelyn's fortune.

They had full powers to invest it in whatever stock seemed most safe or advantageous.