"All men can work!" said Barnabas, more thoughtfully than before.
"Well,—I can ride, and shoot, and drive a coach with any one."
"Anything more?"
"No,—not that I can think of."
"Have you never tried to work, then,—hard work, I mean?"
"Oh Lord, no! Besides, I've always been too busy, y'know. I've never had to work. Y' see, as luck would have it, I was born a gentleman, Beverley."
"Yes," nodded Barnabas, more thoughtful than ever, "but—what is a gentleman?"
"A gentleman? Why—let me think!" said the Captain, manoeuvring his horses skilfully as they swung into the Strand.
And when he had thought as far as the Savoy he spoke:
"A gentleman," said he, "is a fellow who goes to a university, but doesn't have to learn anything; who goes out into the world, but doesn't have to—work at anything; and who has never been blackballed at any of the clubs. I've done a good many things in my time, but I've never had to work."