Inotherrespects，thesealedtreasuresofRushbrook\'svilla，farfromprovokinganysentimentality，seemedonlytogivetruthtothecurrentrumorthatitwasmerelywaitingtobetransformedintoagorgeouswatering-placehotelunderRushbrook\'sdirection；that，withitsnewball-roomchangedintoanelaboratedining-hall，itwouldundergostillfurtherimprovement，theinevitableendandobjectofallRushbrook\'senterprise；andthatitsformerproprietorhadalreadybegunanothervillawhosemagnificenceshouldeclipsethelast。Therecertainlyappearedtobenolimittothemillionaire\'ssuccessinallthathepersonallyundertook，orinhisfortunatecomplicitywiththeenterpriseandinventionofothers。Hisnamewasassociatedwiththeoldestandsafestschemes，aswellasthenewestandboldest——withanequalguaranteeofsecurity。Afew，itwastrue，lookeddoubtinglyuponthis\"onemanpower，\"butcouldnotrefutethefactthatothershadlargelybenefitedbyassociationwithhim，andthathesharedhisprofitswitharoyalhand。Someobjectedonhighergroundstohisbrutalizingtheinfluenceofwealthbyhismaterialandextravagantlypracticalprocesses，insteadofthegentlersuggestionsofeducationandpersonalexample，andwereimpelledtopointoutthefactthatheandhispatronagewerevulgar。Itwasfelt，however，bythosewhoreceivedhisbenefits，thatapropersenseofthisinferioritywasallthatethicsdemandedofthem。
OnecouldstillacceptRushbrook\'sbarbaricgiftsbyhumorouslyrecognizingthefactthathedidn\'tknowanybetter，andthatitpleasedhim，aslongastheyresentedanyhigherpretensions。
Therain-beatenwindowsofRushbrook\'stownhouse，however，werecheerfullylitthatDecemberevening。Mr。Rushbrookseldomdinedalone；infact，itwaspopularlyallegedthatveryoftentheunfinishedbusinessofthedaywasconcludedoverhisbountifulandperfectboard。HewasdressingasJamesenteredtheroom。
\"Mr。Leytonisinyourstudy，sir；hewillstaytodinner。\"
\"Allright。\"