AndwhileIneglectedthedevelopmentofmyuncle’sfinances——andmyown，inmyscientificworkandmyabsorbingconflictwiththedifficultiesofflying，——hisschemesgrewmoreandmoreexpansiveandhazardous，andhisspendingwilderandlaxer。Ibelievethatahauntingsenseoftheintensifyingunsoundnessofhispositionaccountslargelyforhisincreasingirritabilityandhisincreasingsecretivenesswithmyauntandmyselfduringthesecrowningyears。Hedreaded，Ithink，havingtoexplain，hefearedourjestsmightpierceunwittinglytothetruth。Evenintheprivacyofhismindhewouldnotfacethetruth。Hewasaccumulatingunrealisablesecuritiesinhissafesuntiltheyhungapotentialavalancheovertheeconomicworld。Buthisbuyingbecameafever，andhisrestlessdesiretokeepitupwithhimselfthathewasmakingatriumphantprogresstolimitlesswealthgnaweddeeperanddeeper。Acuriousfeatureofthistimewithhimwashisbuyingoverandoveragainofsimilarthings。
Hisideasseemedtoruninseries。Withinatwelve-monthheboughtfivenewmotor-cars，eachmoreswiftandpowerfulthanitspredecessor，andonlytherepeatedpromptresignationofhischiefchauffeurateachmomentofdanger，preventedhisdrivingthemhimself。Heusedthemmoreandmore。Hedevelopedapassionforlocomotionforitsownsake。
ThenhebegantochafeatLadyGrove，frettedbyachancejesthehadoverheardatadinner。“Thishouse，George。”hesaid。“It’samisfit。There’snoelbow-roominit；it’schokedwitholdmemories。AndIcan’tstandallthesedamnedDurgans！
“Thatchapinthecorner，George。No！theothercorner！Themaninacherry-colouredcoat。Hewatchedyou！He’dlooksillyifI
stuckapokerthroughhisGizzard！”