In the meantime, after the lesson I had received as to the nature of money, I saw with some alarm my father preparing to dig a great pit for it.  He had no doubt performed wonders.  Despite of scandal and tattle, and the deadly report of a penniless fortune-hunter having fascinated the young heiress, he commanded an entrance to the receptions of both the rival ladies dominant.  These ladies, Lady Wilts and Lady Denewdney, who moved each in her select half-circle, and could heretofore be induced by none to meet in a common centre, had pledged themselves to honour with their presence a ball he proposed to give to the choice world here assembled on a certain illuminated day of the calendar.

‘So I have now possession of Bath, Richie,’ said he, twinkling to propitiate me, lest I should suspect him of valuing his achievements highly.  He had, he continued, promised Hickson of the Fourth Estate, that he would, before leaving the place, do his utmost to revive the ancient glories of Bath:  Bath had once set the fashion to the kingdom; why not again?  I might have asked him, why at all, or why at his expense; but his lead was irresistible.  Captain DeWitt and his valet, and I, and a score of ladies, scores of tradesmen, were rushing, reluctant or not, on a torrent.  My part was to show that I was an athlete, and primarily that I could fence and shoot.  ’It will do no harm to let it be known,’ said DeWitt.  He sat writing letters incessantly.  My father made the tour of his fair stewardesses from noon to three, after receiving in audience his jewellers, linen-drapers, carpenters, confectioners, from nine in the morning till twelve.  At three o’clock business ceased.  Workmen then applying to him for instructions were despatched to the bar of the hotel, bearing the recommendation to the barmaid not to supply them refreshment if they had ever in their lives been seen drunk.  At four he dressed for afternoon parade.  Nor could his enemy have said that he was not the chief voice and eye along his line of march.  His tall full figure maintained a superior air without insolence, and there was a leaping beam in his large blue eyes, together with the signification of movement coming to his kindly lips, such as hardly ever failed to waken smiles of greeting.  People smiled and bowed, and forgot their curiosity, forgot even to be critical, while he was in sight.  I can say this, for I was acutely critical of their bearing; the atmosphere of the place was never perfectly pleasing to me.

My attitude of watchful reserve, and my reputation as the heir of immense wealth, tended possibly to constrain a certain number of the inimical party to be ostensibly civil.  Lady Wilts, who did me the honour to patronize me almost warmly, complimented me on my manner of backing him, as if I were the hero; but I felt his peculiar charm; she partly admitted it, making a whimsical mouth, saying, in allusion to Miss Penrhys, ’I, you know, am past twenty.  At twenty forty is charming; at forty twenty.’