They were standing at the window. On the other side of the street far below them were some funeral carriages; at this precise moment the coffin was being carried across the pavement.
"That is the end of it. I say, why shouldn't you do all that you can, and while you can?"
"Do you want reasons? Well, one has occurred to me since I came into this room. A minute ago I said to you that you must not repeat that extravagance; and I said if you were appealed to again you could come to me. But what if I had already surrendered every penny in the world? I wish to retain in my own hands at least the power to help my friends."
"That is only another form of selfishness," said Lord Evelyn, laughing. "I fear you are as yet of weak faith, Brand."
He turned from the light, and went and sunk into the shadow of a great arm-chair.
"Now I know what you are going to do, Evelyn," said his friend. "You are going to talk me out of my common-sense; and I will not have it. I want to show you why it is impossible I should agree to this demand."
"If you feel it to be impossible, it is impossible."
"My dear fellow, is it reasonable?"
"I dislike things that are reasonable."