One day, it was when I had been with him about eighteen months, he said
to me suddenly.
"You plough the field, Hubert, and do not tithe the crop, but live upon
the bounty of the husbandman. Henceforward take as much of it as you
will. I ask no account."
So I found myself rich, though in truth I spent but little, both because
my tastes were simple and it was part of my uncle's policy to make no
show which he said would bring envy on us. From this time forward he
began to withdraw himself from business, the truth being that age took
hold of him and he grew feeble. The highest of the affairs he left to
me, only inquiring of them and giving his counsel from time to time.
Still, because he must do something, he busied himself in the shop
which, as he said, he kept as a trap for the birds, chaffering in
ornaments and furs as though his bread depended upon his earning a gold
piece, and directing the manufacture of beautiful jewels and cups which
he, who was an artist, designed to be made by his skilled and highly
paid workmen, some of whom were foreigners.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109