This had brought him no small profit, as well as intimate relations with many a fine household and with many grand folks.

Money had flowed apace into his pocket of late.

His wife had begun to go about so fine that it was well for her the old sumptuary laws had fallen into practical disuse.

His son was an idle young dog, chiefly known to the neighbourhood as being the main leader of a notorious band of Scourers, of which more anon, and many amongst his former friends and associates shook their heads, and declared that Charles Mason was growing so puffed up by wealth that he would scarce vouchsafe a nod to an old acquaintance in the street, unless he were smart and prosperous looking.
The Master Builder had a house upon Old London Bridge.

Once he had carried on his business there, but latterly he had grown too fine for that.