Rawles, who had been his grandfather’s butler since the day after he landed in New York, came over to the grandson’s establishment, greatly to the wrath and confusion of the latter’s Aunt Emmeline.  The chef came from Paris and his name was Detuit.  Ellis, the footman, also found a much better berth with Monty than he had had in the house on the avenue.  Aunt Emmeline never forgave her nephew for these base and disturbing acts of treachery, as she called them.

One of Monty’s most extraordinary financial feats grew out of the purchase of a $14,000 automobile.  He blandly admitted to “Nopper” Harrison and the two secretaries that he intended to use it to practice with only, and that as soon as he learned how to run an “auto” as it should be run he expected to buy a good, sensible, durable machine for $7,000.

His staff officers frequently put their heads together to devise ways and means of curbing Monty’s reckless extravagance.  They were worried.

“He’s like a sailor in port,” protested Harrison.  “Money is no object if he wants a thing, and—­damn it—­he seems to want everything he sees.”

“It won’t last long,” Gardner said, reassuringly.  “Like his namesake, Monte Cristo, the world is his just now and he wants to enjoy it.”

“He wants to get rid of it, it seems to me.”

Whenever they reproached Brewster about the matter he disarmed them by saying, “Now that I’ve got money I mean to give my friends a good time.  Just what you’d do if you were in my place.  What’s money for, anyway?”

“But this $3,000-a-plate dinner—­”

“I’m going to give a dozen of them, and even then I can’t pay my just debts.  For years I’ve been entertained at people’s houses and have been taken cruising on their yachts.  They have always been bully to me, and what have I ever done for them?  Nothing.  Now that I can afford it, I am going to return some of those favors and square myself.  Doesn’t it sound reasonable?”

And so preparations for Monty’s dinner went on.  In addition to what he called his “efficient corps of gentlemanly aids” he had secured the services of Mrs. Dan DeMille as “social mentor and utility chaperon.”  Mrs. DeMille was known in the papers as the leader of the fast younger married set.  She was one of the cleverest and best-looking young women in town, and her husband was of those who did not have to be “invited too.”  Mr. DeMille lived at the club and visited his home.  Some one said that he was so slow and his wife so fast that when she invited him to dinner he usually was two or three days late.  Altogether Mrs. DeMille was a decided acquisition to Brewster’s campaign committee.  It required just her touch to make his parties fun instead of funny.

It was on October 18th that the dinner was given.  With the skill of a general Mrs. Dan had seated the guests in such a way that from the beginning things went off with zest.  Colonel Drew took in Mrs. Valentine and his content was assured; Mr. Van Winkle and the beautiful Miss Valentine were side by side, and no one could say he looked unhappy; Mr. Cromwell went in with Mrs. Savage; and the same delicate tact—­in some cases it was almost indelicate—­was displayed in the disposition of other guests.