The drive to the Central Park was up Fifth Avenue, home of America's
multi-millionaires. An unending cavalcade of superb family equipages was
passing through the entrance at 59th Street. Colonel Harris explained
that "Central Park had been planted with over half a million trees,
shrubs and vines, and that which was once a waste of rock and swamp, had
by skill of enthusiastic engineers and landscape gardeners blossomed into
green lawns, shady groves, vine-covered arbors, with miles of roads and
walks, inviting expanses of water, picturesque bits of architecture, and
scenery, that rival the world's parks."

The ride and comments of Mr. Searles afforded the Harris family an
opportunity to study their guest, and on returning to the hotel, all
agreed that Hugh Searles was thoroughly equipped to protect his English
patrons in any deal that he might decide to make. It was planned that all
should dine together at eight, and Leo was to join the party by
invitation of Lucille.

Evidently the Harrises were well pleased with their English visitor, but
their pleasure was also quickened with the bright prospect of several
millions of English money for their manufacturing interest. Then after
their visit to Europe might follow the long looked-for residence in
delightful New York. Already rich Americans, famous authors and artists
gravitate as naturally to this new world metropolis, as the world's elite
to London and Paris.




CHAPTER III