in him the craving arose from a more domineering ambition. He wished
to rule men, to be first every-where. He despised the simple provincial
title to which he was born, and the hall, with all its sweet gray
antiquity, was only a dull prison. He compared its mediaeval strength,
its long narrow lattices, its low rambling rooms, its Saxon simplicity,
with the grand mansions of modern date in which he visited. It must
be remembered that it is only recently old houses and old furniture
and early English have become fashionable. Antony's dream of a home
was not of Hallam, but of a grander Eltham castle, whose rooms should
be twice as large and lofty and splendid.

He would control men through their idol, gold; he would buy some old
earldom, and have orders and honors thrust upon him. His long,
honorable descent would be a good foundation to build upon. He told
himself that the Hallams ought to have built upon it generations ago.
He almost despised his ancestors for the simple lives they had led.
He could not endure to think of himself sitting down as squire Hallam
and ruling a few cottagers and tilling a few hundred acres. In George
Eltham he found a kindred spirit. They might work for different
motives, but gold was the aim of both.

Many plans had been entertained and discussed, but they had finally
settled upon a co-partnership in finance. They would discount bills,
make advances, and secure government contracts. The latter was the
special aim of Antony's desires. But they were not foolish enough to
think they could succeed without some preliminary initiation, and this
they proposed to acquire in the great banking house of Sir Thomas
Harrington. M.P. Lord Eltham had approved the plan. It now remained
to secure the squire's agreement and co-operation. As for the money
necessary, George Eltham proposed to acquire it by marriage. Antony