Yes, Mr.Howard, I'll admit that it is rather luxurious; that's the result of giving these new men _carte-blanche_.

They take you at your word, sir.

I'll own up I was a little surprised to-day; for I told them to build me a villa--but then I wanted thirty or forty bedrooms, so I suppose they had to make it rather large.

It seemed to me that as it overlooks the lake it ought to be after the style of those places one sees in Italy, and I hinted that for the interior an Oriental style might be suitable; but I left them a free hand, and if they've overdone it they ought to have known better.
I employed the men who were recommended to me." There was a pause for a moment.

Stafford tried to find some phrase which would conceal his lack of appreciation; and his father, as if he saw what was passing through Stafford's mind, went on quickly but smoothly: "Yes, I see.