To say that Tudor selected his companion because of his income would be to ascribe unjustly to him vile motives and a mean instinct.

He had not done so.

The two young men had been thrown, together by circumstances.

They worked at the same desk, liked each other's society, and each being alone in the world, thereby not unnaturally came together.
But it may probably be said that had Norman been as poor as Tudor, Tudor might probably have shrunk from rowing in the same boat with him.
As it was they lived together and were fast allies; not the less so that they did not agree as to many of their avocations.

Tudor, at his friend's solicitation, had occasionally attempted to pull an oar from Searle's slip to Battersea bridge.