But Septimus Rainer enjoyed this respite from the tyranny of his millions with the whole-hearted pleasure of a child.

He enjoyed the brightness and glitter of the place; he enjoyed the pleasant meals and pleasant talks with pleasant companions; he enjoyed a little gambling at the tables; and he enjoyed with a childlike zest playing with Dorothy and the children, displaying latent and unsuspected talents for piracy, brigandage, and conspiracy, which were no less a glory than a surprise to him.

Indeed, at times he was very like a young schoolboy let loose after many hours' school.
Tinker was of perpetual interest to him, and he listened with greedy ears to the wisdom of the world of that sage, on the rare occasions when some matter or other set it flowing from his lips.

On the other hand, he found in him an absorbed listener to the stories of his less involved financial battles, and spared no pains to make them clear to him.

Sir Tancred interested him little less, and he was always deploring the loss the splendid army of millionaires had suffered by his excellent abilities not having been forced to flow in a business channel.
He was distressed, too, about the waste of Tinker, and adjured his father to hand him over to him to be made a millionaire of.
But Sir Tancred turned a deaf ear to his petition, and said, "Of course, if Tinker went into business he would become a millionaire.
And it's a fashionable occupation, and I've nothing to say against it.
But over here, with some of us, there are still other things besides money--not that there will be long--and for my part I shall be content if he grows up a gentleman, as he will.