This unkind conclusion was perhaps not quite true.  The fact was, that Frank, aided by circumstances, had discovered the ease with which a man can borrow.  That was his secret—­his philosopher’s stone.  To a certain extent, and in certain ways, he really was a clever man, and he had the luck to begin many years ago when farming was on the ascending side of the cycle.  The single solid basis of his success was his thorough knowledge of cattle—­his proficiency in dealership.  Perhaps this was learnt while assisting his father to drive other folks’ pigs to market.  At all events, there was no man in the county who so completely understood cattle and sheep, for buying and selling purposes, as Frank.  At first he gained his reputation by advising others what and when to buy; by degrees, as people began to see that he was always right, they felt confidence in him, and assisted him to make small investments on his own account.  There were then few auctioneers, and cattle were sold in open market.  If a man really was a judge, it was as good to him as a reputation for good ale is to an innkeeper.  Men flock to a barrel of good ale no matter whether the inn be low class or high class.  Men gather about a good judge of cattle, and will back him up.  By degrees D——­ managed to rent a small farm, more for the purpose of having a place to turn his cattle into than for farming proper—­he was, in fact, a small dealer.

Soon afterwards there was an election.  During the election, Frank gained the good-will of a local solicitor and political agent.  He proved himself an active and perhaps a discreetly unscrupulous assistant.  The solicitor thought he saw in Frank talent of a certain order—­a talent through which he (the solicitor) might draw unto himself a share of other people’s money.  The lawyer’s judgment of men was as keen as Frank’s judgment of cattle.  He helped Frank to get into a large farm, advancing the money with which to work it.  He ran no risk; for, of course, he had Frank tight in the grasp of his legal fist, and he was the agent for the landlord.  The secret was this—­the lawyer paid his clients four per cent, for the safe investment of their money.  Frank had the money, worked a large farm with it, and speculated in the cattle markets, and realised some fifteen or perhaps twenty per cent., of which the lawyer took the larger share.  Something of this sort has been done in other businesses besides farming.  Frank, however, was not the man to remain in a state of tutelage, working for another.  His forte was not saving—­simple accumulation was not for him; but he looked round the district to discover those who had saved.