He was now, then, in the possession of L2500 a year, and was therefore very well off, in the pecuniary sense of the phrase.

He had, moreover, acquired a reputation which gave him a social rank beyond that accorded to him by a discerning State.

He was considered a man of solid judgment, and his opinion upon all matters, private and public, carried weight.

The opinion itself, critically examined, was not worth much, but the way he announced it was imposing.

Mr.Fox said that 'No one ever was so wise as Lord Thurlow looked.' Lord Thurlow could not have looked wiser than Mr.
Chillingly Gordon.