Even the frugal General did not see how it could have been done on less.

Roger no doubt had been a lazy, self-indulgent beggar.

Yet he seemed a good deal steadier, and more sensible than he used to be; in spite of his wife, and the pouring out of dollars.

And there was no doubt that he had grown perceptibly older.

The General felt a vague pang of regret, so rare and so compelling had been the quality of Roger's early youth, measured at least by physical standards.
* * * * * The house sank into sleep and silence.