116 A Perfect Gentleman.

“T had no choice, sir.”

“Yes, you had. You were free to choose
between serving God and pleasing man, and
you made your choice; and it is in conse-
quence of that determination that I am here
to-day. I am General Downing. I have
been looking out for some time past for a
man on whom I could fully rely to execute
a large Government order. The moment
I heard Mr. Harcourt’s story of you, I made
up my mind you should have the work, if
you could take it; for I felt sure that the
man who could serve God so fearlessly
would be the man who would best do his
duty by his neighbour.”

And as the general proceeded to detail to
Benson the nature of the order he proposed
to give him, Benson saw in a moment that
such a prospect of well-doing was opened up
to him as he had never yet had since he
went into business. Nor was he mistaken.
That order laid the foundation of Benson’s
present prosperity. People envy him his
good luck, but he knows better than to call
his altered fortunes by that name; and
as he looks on the future with consciousness