That his character was simple in reality, may as yet seem less evident.

He was regarded as mad, as has been seen, but his madness was methodical and did not overstep certain very narrow bounds.

Beyond those limits within which others, at least, did not consider him responsible, his chief idea seemed to be to gain his living quietly, owing no man anything, nor refusing anything to any man who asked it.

This last characteristic, more than any other, seemed to prove the possibility of his having been brought up in wealth and with the free use of money, for his generosity was not that of the vulgar spendthrift who throws away his possessions upon himself quite as freely as upon his companions.

He earned enough money at his work to live decently well, at least, and he spent but the smallest sum upon his own wants.