CHAPTER IV 

KARI 

Thus began my life in London in the house of my uncle, John Grimmer, who was called the Goldsmith. In truth, however, he was more than this, since not only did he fashion and trade in costly things; he lent out moneys to interest upon security to great people who needed it, and even to the king Richard and his Court. Also he owned ships and did much commerce with Holland, France, yes, and with Spain and Italy. Indeed, although he appeared so humble, his wealth was very large and always increased, like a snowball rolling down a hill; moreover, he owned much land, especially in the neighbourhood of London where it was likely to grow in value. 

"Money melts," he would say, "furs corrupt with moth and time, and thieves break in and steal. But land--if the title be good--remains. Therefore buy land, which none can carry away, near to a market or a growing town if may be, and hire it out to fools to farm, or sell it to other fools who wish to build great houses and spend their goods in feeding a multitude of idle servants. Houses eat, Hubert, and the larger they are, the more they eat." 

No word did he say to me as to my dwelling on with him, yet there I remained, by common consent, as it were. Indeed on the morrow of my coming a tailor appeared to measure me for such garments as he thought I should wear, by his command, I suppose, as I was never asked for payment, and he bade me furnish my chamber to my own liking, also another room at the back of the house that was much larger than it seemed, which he told me was to be mine to work in, though at what I was to work he did not say. 
Who would say "Money Melts"?
What was he called?
What did he believe people should invest in?
What's one thing that could be done with that investment?
What's another?
How were they related?
Where would they live?
Who arrived the day after the nephew?
What was one place the nephew in charge of furnishing?
And the other?
John Grimmer
 he
the Goldsmith
 the Goldsmith
land
 land
hire it out to fools to farm
 hire it out to fools to farm
sell it to other fools
 sell it to other fools
John was his uncle
my uncle
in London
 in London
unknown
unknown
his own chamber
 my chamber to
a room at the back of the house
room at the back of the house