"Yes—when a man has lived for half a century, he begins to think that he may possibly grow old some day, and I would provide myself with a young partner, who may take the laboring oar in my business when age compels me to lay it aside."
"All that may do very well—I have some thought of doing the same myself; but I shall look out for a young man who is well connected. Connections do a great deal for us, you know, and we must always have an eye to the main chance."
"I agree with you, but we should probably differ about what constitutes the main chance."
"There surely can be no difference about that; it means with every one the one thing needful."
"And what is, in your opinion, the one thing needful?"
"Why this, to be sure," and Mr. Duffield drew his purse from his pocket, and shook it playfully.
"A somewhat different use of the term from that which the Bible makes," said Mr. Cavendish.
"Oh! let the Bible alone, and let me hear what you think of it."
"Pardon me, I cannot let the Bible alone if I tell you my own opinions, for from the Bible I learned them."
"It seems a strange book, I must say, to consult for a law of partnerships."