He was not neglected, neither was he the victim of intemperance in the usual sense.
The way to fame and fortune had always been wide open to him; there were long intervals when he did not drink, nor did drink enfeeble his touch; it was not half so much to struggle against as the chest diseases from which professional men so often suffer; I believe if he had really tried or wished he could have conquered his vice altogether. Neither of these causes kept him from the foremost rank.
There was no ambition, and there was no business-avarice. So many who have no ideal are kept hard at work by the sheer desire of money, and thus spurred onward, achieve something approaching greatness. Alere did not care for money.
He could not get out of Fleet Street. Ten pounds was a large sum in the company he frequented; he did not want any more.
CHAPTER XXIX.
