Until now his had been the leading mind, but his power was gone.

He resented this, yet was sensible that no resentment must be shown.

His talent as a tactician was to be sorely tested.

He gently tried out this talent.
"Winona says you ought to come home to dinner." The magnate replied as from another world.
"I couldn't eat a mouthful," he said, and crowded a cocoanut cream into an oral cavity already distended by a chocolate mouse.
"She says, now, you should save your money and buy some useful thing with it," again ventured the parasite.

It was the sign of a nicely sensed acumen that he no longer called it "our" money.
"Ho! Gee, gosh!" spluttered the rich one, and that was all.
"What we going to have next ?" demanded the wise one.
"I'll have to think up something." He did not invite suggestions and none were offered.