But even though I were able to send him more, what good would it do him ?' This was a question very difficult to answer.

Caldigate had been forced to answer it to himself in reference to his own conduct.

He had sent money to his former friend, and could without much damage to himself have sent more.

Latterly he had been in that condition as to money in which a man thinks nothing of fifty pounds,--that condition which induces one man to shoe his horse with gold, and another to chuck his bank-notes about like half-crowns.

The condition is altogether opposed to the regulated prudence of confirmed wealth.