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icant； however dull that might be。 When he had first attempted to introduce Aileen into society it was his idea that； however tame they might chance to find it to begin with； they themselves； once admitted； could make it into something very interesting and even brilliant。 Since the time the Cowperwoods had been repudiated； however； they had found it necessary； if they wished any social diversion at all； to fall back upon such various minor elements as they could scrape an acquaintance withpassing actors and actresses； to whom occasionally they could give a dinner； artists and singers whom they could invite to the house upon gaining an introduction； and； of course； a number of the socially unimportant； such as the Haatstaedts； Hoecksemas； Videras； Baileys； and others still friendly and willing to come in a casual way。 Cowperwood found it interesting from time to time to invite a business friend； a lover of pictures； or some young artist to the house to dinner or for the evening； and on these occasions Aileen was always present。 The Addisons called or invited them occasionally。 But it was a dull game； the more so since their complete defeat was thus all the more plainly indicated。
This defeat； as Cowperwood kept reflecting； was really not his fault at all。 He had been getting along well enough personally。 If Aileen had only been a somewhat different type of woman！ Nevertheless； he was in no way prepared to desert or reproach her。 She had clung to him through his stormy prison days。 She had encouraged him when he needed encouragement。 He would stand by her and see what could be done a little later； but this ostracism was a rather dreary thing to endure。 Besides； personally； he appeared to be becoming more and more interesting to men and to women。 The men friends he had made he retainedAddison； Bailey； Videra； McKibben； Rambaud； and others。 There were women in society； a number of them； who regretted his disappearance if not that of Aileen。 Occasionally the experiment would be tried of inviting him without his wife。 At first he refused invariably； later he went alone occasionally to a dinner…party without her knowledge。
It was during this interregnum that Cowperwood for the first time clearly began to get the idea that there was a marked difference between him and Aileen intellectually and spiritually； and that while he might be in accord withher in many waysemotionally； physically； idylliclythere were； nevertheless； many things which he could do alone which she could not doheights to which he could rise where she could not possibly follow。 Chicago society might be a negligible quantity； but he was now to contrast her sharply with the best of what the Old World had to offer in the matter of femininity； for following their social expulsion in Chicago and his financial victory； he once more decided to go abroad。 In Rome； at the Japanese and Brazilian embassies （where； because of his wealth； he gained introduction）； and at the newly established Italian Court； he encountered at a distance charming social figures of considerable significanceItalian countesses； English ladies of high degree； talented American women of strong artistic and social proclivities。 As a rule they were quick to recognize the charm of his manner； the incisiveness and grip of his mind； and to estimate at all its worth the high individuality of his soul； but he could also always see that Aileen was not so acceptable。 She was too rich in her entourage； too showy。 Her glowing health and beauty was a species of affront to the paler； more sublimated souls of many who were not in themselves unattractive。
〃Isn't that the typical American for you；〃 he heard a woman remark； at one of those large； very general court receptions to which so many are freely admitted； and to which Aileen had been determined to go。 He was standing aside talking to an acquaintance he had madean English…speaking Greek banker stopping at the Grand Hotel while Aileen promenaded with the banker's wife。 The speaker was an Englishwoman。 〃So gaudy； so self…conscious； and so naive！〃
Cowperwood turned to look。 It was Aileen； and the lady speaking was undoubtedly well bred； thoughtful； good…looking。 He had to admit that much that she said was true； but how were you to gage a woman like Aileen； anyhow？ She was not reprehensible in any wayjust a full…blooded animal glowing with a love of life。 She was attractive to him。 It was too bad that people of obviously more conservative tendencies were so opposed to her。 Why could they not see what he sawa kind of childish enthusiasm for luxury and show which sprang； perhaps； from the fact that in her youth she had not enjoyed the social opportunities which she needed and longed for。 He felt sorry for her。 At the same time he was inclined to feel that perhaps now another type of woman would be better for him socially。 If he had a harder type； one with keener artistic perceptions and a penchant for just the right social touch or note； how much better he would do！ He came home bringing a Perugino； brilliant examples of Luini； Previtali； and Pinturrichio （this last a portrait of Caesar Borgia）； which he picked up in Italy； to say nothing of two red African vases of great size that he found in Cairo； a tall gilt Louis Fifteenth standard of carved wood that he discovered in Rome； two ornate candelabra from Venice for his walls； and a pair of Italian torcheras from Naples to decorate the corners of his library。 It was thus by degrees that his art collection was growing。
At the same time it should be said； in the matter of women and the sex question； his judgment and views had begun to change tremendously。 When he had first met Aileen he had many keen intuitions regarding life and sex； and above all clear faith that he had a right to do as he pleased。 Since he had been out of prison and once more on his upward way there had been many a stray glance cast in his direction； he had so often had it clearly forced upon him that he was fascinating to women。 Although he had only so recently acquired Aileen legally； yet she was years old to him as a mistress； and the first engrossingit had been almost all…engrossingenthusiasm was over。 He loved her not only for her beauty； but for her faithful enthusiasm； but the power of others to provoke in him a momentary interest； and passion even； was something which he did not pretend to understand； explain； or moralize about。 So it was and so he was。 He did not want to hurt Aileen's feelings by letting her know that his impulses thus wantonly strayed to others； but so it was。
Not long after he had returned from the European trip he stopped one afternoon in the one exclusive drygoods store in State Street to purchase a tie。 As he was entering a woman crossed the aisle before him； from one counter to anothera type of woman which he was coming to admire； but only from a rather distant point of view； seeing them going here and there in the world。 She was a dashing type； essentially smart and trig； with a neat figure； dark hair and eyes； an olive skin； small mouth； quaint noseall in all quite a figure for Chicago at the time。 She had； furthermore； a curious look of current wisdom in her eyes； an air of saucy insolence which aroused Cowperwood's sense of mastery； his desire to dominate。 To the look of provocation and defiance which she flung him for the fraction of a second he returned a curiously leonine glare which went over her like a dash of cold water。 It was not a hard look； however； merely urgent and full of meaning。 She was the vagrom…minded wife of a prosperous lawyer who was absorbed in his business and in himself。 She pretended indifference for a moment after the first glance； but paused a little way off as if to examine some laces。 Cowperwood looked after her to catch a second fleeting； attracted look。 He was on his way to several engagements which he did not wish to break； but he took out a note…book； wrote on a slip of paper the name of a hotel； and underneath： 〃Parlor； second floor； Tuesday； 1 P。M。〃 Passing by where she stood； he put it into her gloved hand； which was hanging by her side。 The fingers closed over it automatically。 She had noted his action。 On the day and hour suggested she was there； although he had given no name。 That liaison； while delightful to him； was of no great duration。 The lady was interesting； but too fanciful。
Similarly； at the Henry Huddlestones'； one of their neighbors at the first Michigan Avenue house they occupied； he encountered one evening at a small dinner…party a girl of twenty…three who interested him greatlyfor the moment。 Her name was not very attractive Ella F。 Hubby； as he eventually learnedbut she was not unpleasing。 Her principal charm was a laughing； hoydenish countenance and roguish eyes。 She was the daughter of a well…to…do commission merchant in South Water Street。 That her interest should have been aroused by that of Cowperwood in her was natural enough。 She was young； foolish； impressionable； easily struck by the glitter of a reputation； and Mrs。 Huddlestone had spoken highly of Cowperwood and his wife and the great things he was doing or was going to do。 When Ella saw him； and saw that he was still young…looking； with the