Now and again he would remind himself that Varick had been no greater an adventurer than many a man who, when utterly impecunious, has married an heiress amid the hearty approval and acclamation of most of the people about them.

And Varick could not now be regarded as impecunious; he was a man of substance, though no doubt even his present income would seem as nothing compared with the Brabazon fortune.
Sir Lyon was ashamed of his growing distaste, even dislike, of his courteous host.

It was as if in the last few days a pit had been dug between them.

It was not pleasant to him to be accepting the hospitality of a man whom he was growing to dislike and suspect more and more every day.

And yet though he could have made a hundred excuses to leave Wyndfell Hall, he stayed on, refusing to inquire too closely into the reason.
At times he tried to persuade himself that he was keenly interested in the problem presented by Bubbles Dunster.