And any persistent tradesman did get it.

He did not actually hoist the black flag of impecuniosity, and proclaim his intention of preying generally upon the retail dealers, as his uncle the admiral had done.
But he became known as a young man with whom money was "tight." All this had been going on for three or four years before he had met Lucy Morris at the deanery.

He was then eight-and-twenty, and had been four years called.

He was thirty when old Lady Fawn hinted to him that he had better not pay any more visits at Fawn Court.
But things had much altered with him of late.

At the time of that visit to the deanery he had made a sudden start in his profession.
The Corporation of the City of London had brought an action against the Bank of England with reference to certain alleged encroachments, of which action, considerable as it was in all its interests, no further notice need be taken here than is given by the statement that a great deal of money in this cause had found its way among the lawyers.