Reginald Thorn, Damien's grandfather on his late father's side, had discovered this plot of land on Lake Michigan, north of Chicago, in the 1920s. He had taken some of the money he had made in munitions in World War I to build a palace. People at the time had said he was crazy. It was not until years later, when automobiles, and politicians, had caused the Outer Drive to be built, that everyone who could afford to scrambled to build on the North Shore. But none of them ever built a home as fine as Thorn's.

Thorn used to say that he built the house for his sons, Robert and Richard. Those who envied Thorn, and who looked for every possible chance to slander or mock him, said that he had named his sons Robert and Richard so that they could all share the same monogrammed silverware, bath towels, and shirts. Thorn never denied the rumor, and it was certainly possible, for he was indeed miserly, as are many rich men who chase their way to the top. His haberdasher often had to wait more than a year for a Thorn bill to be honored, but he would never have considered refusing Thorn's business, for saying that you were Thorn's haberdasher was like having 'by appointment to His Majesty the King' posted on your window in Savile Row. Thorn was well aware of this, which was why he was rarely in a hurry to pay his bills.

Thorn adored both sons equally, and he did everything he could for them because they represented a kind of immortality to him. When they were refused admission to the exclusive Davidson Military School because their father was 'in trade,' Thorn donated enough money to build a new gym. The boys were admitted forthwith, the gym was named after their father, and both sons were graduated with honors.

It never occurred to Thorn that he might be hurting his boys by making life so easy for them. All he knew was that he wanted nothing less than the best for them. Always.

Robert, the elder, turned to international diplomacy. Richard went into the family business. Thorn was pleased with both. Everything was as it should be. With Robert making friends and waves in the world of politics, and Richard taking over Thorn Industries, their father had time to be lavish and self-indulgent. He established numerous grants, scholarships, and foundations, many of them connected with his grand passion, archaeology. Just before he died, he set in motion plans for the building of a great new museum in the heart of Chicago, a museum to be devoted primarily to the collecting and exhibiting of ancient Christian artifacts.

He did not live to see the museum completed. Nor did he live to see Thorn Industries become the most powerful conglomerate in the world.