There was something a little formal in his words, in his diction, that Lydon rather liked. There was also about the man an ease, an unconscious air of authority that pleased him. Beside him his brother, Howard Stormont, with his supposed great wealth, appeared plebeian. He learned afterwards from Gloria that the elder brother was much the superior in mentality. He might not have the money-making instinct so strongly developed, but he had taken far greater advantage of the good education their father had bestowed upon them. He was a very cultivated man, passionately fond of art and music and an omnivorous reader. Howard was essentially a man of the world and nothing more; the arts did not interest him, and the daily newspapers were almost his sole literature. It was a very pleasant dinner. Jasper Stormont was an exceedingly good talker, but he led the conversation without any attempt to monopolize it, giving everybody a chance to contribute to the common fund of entertainment. Howard Stormont and his sister were staying the night at the hotel, returning to Effington on the morrow. Leonard left early, good taste suggesting that he should not intrude himself too long on what was a family conclave. There must be many things they would wish to discuss alone. The liking between the two men seemed mutual. Jasper Stormont shook Leonard’s hand very warmly when they parted. “As I told you, Gloria is going to give herself to us for a week, and I should like you to come very often. To dinner every night if you can.” He gave him a very charming smile when the young men protested that this was taking undue advantage of his position. “Not at all, my dear young friend. I am afraid my motive is a rather selfish one. I want to become well acquainted with my future son-in-law.” Gloria saw him off; the others with commendable tact did not intrude upon the tender farewell of the lovers. “You like my dear old dad, don’t you, Leonard? He has a heart of gold,” asked Gloria as they said good night. And Leonard was able to say honestly that he had taken a great liking to Jasper Stormont. He was quite convinced, even on this short acquaintance, he was a white man through and through. It followed that, being so pressed, the young man did dine at the _Cecil_ every evening of that week. The Stormonts had a small private sitting-room, but Jasper often took Lydon down into the smoking-room for a private chat. He had openly avowed his wish to become better acquainted with his future son-in-law, and these informal intimate conversations would help him quickly to that knowledge. He told Leonard first of his future plans. He expected to retire in about five years from now and would come back to spend his declining years in England. He was nothing like so rich a man as his brother Howard, so he said, but he would be able to live comfortably on the interest of what he had saved.