His property is as good as a joint-stock company at his back.

Practically, he is very good, considering his method of working: not so good, considering the means at his disposal." "What would you do if you had his means ?" Conolly made a gesture which plainly signified that he thought he could do a great many things.
"And is science, then, so expensive?
I thought it was beyond the reach of money." "Oh, yes: science may be.

But I am not a scientific man: I'm an inventor.

The two things are quite different.

Invention is the most expensive thing in the world.