Certainly, Mr. Lind did not starve; if the society of which
he was a member enabled him to live as he did in Curzon Street, he had
little to complain of.
"You mean," said George Brand, "that before I enter this highest grade,
next to the Council, I must absolutely surrender my entire fortune to
you?"
"To the common fund of the Society--yes," was the reply; uttered as a
matter of course.
"But there is no compulsion?"
"Certainly not. On this point every one is free. You may remain in your
present grade if you please."
"Then I confess to you I don't see why I should change," Brand said,
frankly. "Cannot I work as well for you just as I am?"
"Perhaps; perhaps not," said the other, easily. "But you perceive,
further, that the fact of our not exacting subscriptions from the poorer
members of our association makes it all the more necessary that we
should have voluntary gifts from the richer. And as regards a surplus of
wealth, of what use is that to any one? Am I not granted as much money
as one need reasonably want? And just now there is more than ever a
need of money for the general purposes of the Society: Lord Evelyn gave
us a thousand pounds last week.
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