We were coming into Trafalgar. Nelson stood high up in the yellow fog.
"Nature is less gracious than history sometimes," mused Pembroke,
gazing up. "She is doing her best to dull the lustre of the old
gentleman. Ah, those were days when they had men."
"We have them still," said I. "It is not the men, but the
opportunities, which are lacking."
"Perhaps that is so. Yet, it is the great man who makes them."
I was thinking of Hillars. "I would give a good deal for a regiment
and a bad moment for our side." There was no mighty column in his
memory, scarcely a roll of earth. "What do you want to do?" I asked.
"Shall we hail a cab and drive to the park?"
"Just as you say, if it is not interfering with your work."
"Not at all."
"Have a cigar," said Pembroke, after we had climbed into the cab and
arranged our long legs comfortably. The London cab is all very well
for a short and thin person. "These came to me directly from Key West."
"That is one of the joys of being rich," said I. "Gold is Aladdin's
lamp. I have to take my chances on getting good tobacco in this
country."
"Talking about gold--" he began.
"Don't!" I entreated.
"I was about to say that I drew on my bankers for 20,000 pounds this
morning."
"You intend to go in for a figure abroad, then?"
"Oh, no. I deposited the money in another bank--in your name."
"Mine? Deposited 20,000 pounds in my name?" I gasped.
"Just so."
"I understood you to say, because you thought me to be a gentleman,
that you weren't going to do anything like this? Have I done something
to change your opinion?"
"Of course not. And I never said that I should not do it. You may or
may not use it, that is as you please. But so far as I am concerned,
it will stay there and accumulate interest till the crack of doom. It
isn't mine any more. If I were not almost your brother, I dare say you
might justly take offense at the action. As it is," complacently, "you
will not only accept the gift, but thank me for it."
"How old are you?" I asked.
"Exactly twenty-five."
"I thought that you could not be older than that. Aren't you afraid to
be so far away from home?"