This kind of thing, going on as it did for years, was bound to give Rhodes a wrong idea as to the faculty he had of bringing others to share his points of view, and he became so accustomed to be considered always right that he felt surprised and vexed whenever blind obedience was not given.

Indeed, it so excited his displeasure that he would at once plunge into a course of conduct which he might never have adopted but for the fact that he had heard it condemned or criticised.
It has been said that every rich man is generally surrounded by parasites, and Cecil Rhodes was not spared this infliction.

Only in his case these parasites did not apply their strength to attacks upon his purse; they exploited him for his influence, for the importance which it gave them to be considered by the world as his friends, or even his dependants.

They appeared wherever he went, telling the general public that their presence had been requested by the "Boss" in such warm terms that they could not refuse.

It was curious to watch this systematic chase which followed him everywhere, even to England.