He had many friends in his profession, scattered up and down the land.

But he had created round himself the atmosphere of the young magnifico.

It was he who had lent, others who had borrowed.

Rothschild or Rockefeller inviting any of them to lend him money would have produced less jaw-dropping amazement.

Even if he sent his pride flying and appealed to the most friendly and generous, he shrank from the sacrifice he would call upon the poor devil to make.