He was lucky in the fact that opportunity tumbled into his lap, as it were.

A few years later, with a little more experience, the slightest tide of success, and he had not been able to approach Carrie at all.
"You ought to have a piano here, Drouet," said Hurstwood, smiling at Carrie, on the evening in question, "so that your wife could play." Drouet had not thought of that.
"So we ought," he observed readily.
"Oh, I don't play," ventured Carrie.
"It isn't very difficult," returned Hurstwood.

"You could do very well in a few weeks." He was in the best form for entertaining this evening.

His clothes were particularly new and rich in appearance.

The coat lapels stood out with that medium stiffness which excellent cloth possesses.