He built himself a palace for a residence, and when it was completed and furnished issued tickets of admission, that the public might see in what splendor he was going to live.

Of course the newspapers described everything with a minuteness of detail and a freedom of remark that made some modest and sensitive people fancy that Mr.Birtwell must be exceedingly annoyed.

But he experienced no such feeling.

Praise of any kind was pleasant to his ears; you could not give him too much, nor was he over-nice as to the quality.

He lived in the eyes of his fellow-citizens, and in all his walk and conversation, he looked to their good opinion.
Such was Mr.Birtwell, at whose house a grand entertainment was to be given.