In the Capital he had, no doubt, enjoyed all that seems pleasant in the eyes of a wealthy youth, but in spite of that he had remained fresh and open-hearted even to the smallest things; and this was what most rejoiced his father.

In him there was no trace of the satiety, the blunted faculty for enjoyment, which fell like a blight on so many men of his age and rank.

He could still play as merrily with little Mary, still take as much pleasure in a rare flower or a fine horse, as before his departure.

At the same time he had gained keen insight into the political situation of the time, into the state of the empire and the court, into administration, and the innovations in church matters; it was a joy to his father to hear him discourse; and he assured his wife that he had learnt a great deal from the boy, that Orion was on the high road to be a great statesman and was already quite capable of taking his father's place.
When Neforis confessed how large a sum in debts Orion had left in Constantinople the old man put his hand in his purse with a sort of pride, delighted to find that his sole remaining heir knew how to spend the immense wealth which to him was now a burden rather than a pleasure--to make good use of it, as he himself had done in his day, and display a magnificence of which the lustre was reflected on him and on his name.
"With him, at any rate," said the old man, "one gets something for the money.

His horses cost a great deal but he knows how to win with them; his entertainments swallow up a pretty sum, but they gain him respect wherever he goes.