They had not met for several years, and Clinton, who had married in the interval, also thought him changed.
"Is it prosperity or adversity that has made you so tame, dear fellow ?" he asked him, as they sat together over dessert one night.
"Adversity," said Merefleet, smiling faintly.

"I'm getting old, Perry; and there's no one to take care of me.

And I find that money is vanity." Clinton understood.
"Better go round the world," he said.

"That's the best cure for that." But Merefleet shook his head.
"It's my own fault," he said presently.

"I've chucked away my life to the gold-demon.