"now you know all about it, syd," said mr. stryver. "i don't care about fortune: she is a charming creature, and i have made up my mind to please myself: on the whole, i think i can afford to please myself. she will have in me a man already pretty well off, and a rapidly rising man, and a man of some distinction: it is a piece of good fortune for her, but she is worthy of good fortune. are you astonished?"