The inherent ambition was to make money; but recognizing the absurdity of

adding to his income, which even in his extravagance he could not spend,

he gave himself over into the hands of grasping railroad and steamship

companies, or their agencies, and became for a time the slave of guide and

dragoman and carrier. And then the wanderlust, descended to him from the

blood of his roving Dutch ancestors, which had lain dormant in the several

generations following, sprang into active life again. He became known in

every port of call. He became known also in the wildernesses. He had

climbed almost inaccessible mountains, in Europe, in Asia; he had fished

and hunted north, east, south and west; he had fitted out polar

expeditions; he had raided the pearl markets; he had made astonishing

gifts to women who had pleased his fancy, but whom he did not know or seek

to know; he had kept some of his intimate friends out of bankruptcy; he

had given the most extravagant dinners at one season and, unknown, had

supported a bread-line at another; he had even financed a musical comedy.

Whatever had for the moment appealed to his fancy, that he had done. That

the world--his world--threw up its hands in wonder and despair neither

disturbed him nor swerved him in the least. He was alone, absolute master

of his millions. Mamas with marriageable daughters declared that he was

impossible; the marriageable daughters never had a chance to decide one

way or the other; and men called him a fool. He had promoted elephant

fights which had stirred the Indian princes out of their melancholy

indifference, and tiger hunts which had, by their duration and

magnificence, threatened to disrupt the efficiency of the British military

service,--whimsical excesses, not understandable by his intimate

acquaintances who cynically arraigned him as the fool and his money.

But, like the villain in the play, his income still pursued him. Certain

scandals inevitably followed, scandals he was the last to hear about and

the last to deny when he heard them. Many persons, not being able to take

into the mind and analyze a character like Courtlandt's, sought the line

of least resistance for their understanding, and built some precious

exploits which included dusky island-princesses, diaphanous dancers, and

comic-opera stars.

Simply, he was without direction; a thousand goals surrounded him and none

burned with that brightness which draws a man toward his destiny: until

one day. Personally, he possessed graces of form and feature, and was

keener mentally than most young men who inherit great fortunes and

distinguished names.

* * * * *

Automobiles of all kinds panted hither and thither. An occasional smart

coupé went by as if to prove that prancing horses were still necessary to

the dignity of the old aristocracy. Courtlandt made up his mind suddenly.

He laughed with bitterness. He knew now that to loiter near the stage

entrance had been his real purpose all along, and persistent lying to

himself had not prevailed. In due time he took his stand among the gilded

youth who were not privileged (like their more prosperous elders) to wait

outside the dressing-rooms for their particular ballerina. By and by there

was a little respectful commotion. Courtlandt's hand went instinctively to

his collar, not to ascertain if it were properly adjusted, but rather to

relieve the sudden pressure. He was enraged at his weakness. He wanted to

turn away, but he could not.




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