And he probably has been educated,--as
you have been. He calls himself a gentleman. He should know black
from white. It is considered terrible to cheat at cards.'
'There was nothing of that, sir.'
'The man who plays and cheats has fallen low indeed.
'I understand that, sir.'
'He who plays that he may make an income, but does not cheat, has
fallen nearly as low. Do you ever think what money is?'
The Duke paused so long, collecting his own thoughts and thinking
of his own words, that Gerald found himself obliged to answer.
'Cheques, and sovereigns, and bank-notes,' he replied with much
hesitation.
'Money is the reward of labour,' said the Duke, 'or rather, in the
shape it reaches you, it is your representation of that reward.
You may earn it yourself, or, as is, I am afraid, more likely to
be the case with you, you may possess it honestly as prepared for
you by the labour of others who have stored it up for you. But it
is a commodity of which you are bound to see that the source is
not only clean but noble. You would not let Lord Percival give you
money.
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