that it was just on the point of incorporation. However, no land could be obtained nearer than Buckingham, and there the friar established himself—buying half a field at about three times its value.
The friar lived in the vicinity during the progress of the building, which was erected principally on borrowed funds, as is usual with Roman Catholic institutions. Knowing that the financial prospects of the college were precarious, the good friar set himself to live with great economy and store up a little against the opening of the establishment. He had an excellent reputation for economy already: he knew all the halfpenny buses in London, and patronised shops where a cup of tea could be had for a halfpenny. However, he surpassed himself in Buckingham: he read by the light of a street lamp which shone in at his window (thus saving the cost of oil), had no servant, and achieved the fabulous feat of living on sixpence per day[1] during a long period. Being forced at length to keep a lay-brother he chose a poor little ascetic who, he knew, was only too eager to find a superior who would allow him to starve himself on orthodox principles.
When at length it was deemed expedient to remove the zealous friar to another part of England, he had scraped together the respectable sum of 100l., which he left to his successor, who, accordingly, in recording
- ↑ The diet was bread, beer and coffee, and tinned meat. For feast-days he used a special meat which cost a penny per tin more.
