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.

Somehow they had come with the expectation of being bored. Curiosity
prompted them to accept, but it did not prevent the subsequent
inevitable lassitude. Socially Monty Brewster had yet to make himself
felt. He and his dinners were something to talk: about, but they were
accepted hesitatingly, haltingly. P