By the time the divorce had been arranged he had become used to a way of life which was not adaptable to dynastic ambitions; it accommodated a mistress more easily than a wife. He had been introduced by a fellow financier to the Prince of Wales; the love affair which absorbed most of his emotional energy in those years was his love affair with England. The wealth, stability and dignity of the country of his adoption (he had assumed British nationality) never ceased to give him satisfaction. Not only was its capital the financial centre of the world, but its heir to the Throne (soon its King) would have made an excellent business man himself. These were the years in which Reuben Hergesheimer managed not only to control what soon became a vast and complicated financial empire of his own, ranging from mines to shipping, docks to railways, but to hold himself available as banker, financial adviser and companion to the King Emperor of vaster terrains. He could be called upon at short notice to provide a quiet but delicious dinner and some discreet gambling at his faultlessly run house in North Audley Street, or to make up a party for the races, or a game of bridge, or even a yachting expedition. He was always the same, quiet-voiced and shrewd, uncensorious, worldly but at the same time romantic; the King Emperor had his absolute allegiance, as did the splendid society over which he ruled. To Reuben Hergesheimer English society seemed the best in the world, confident, stable and stupid; in every way open to exploitation by himself. Exploitation in Reuben’s vocabulary was a good word – it meant ‘to make the best of’ and not at all ‘to take unfair advantage of’ – it led to expansion, which was another good word.

So in these years of opportunity the founding of a dynasty was deferred. By now, the best years over, he faced the fact that it was too late. He had become so discreet, in a sense so solitary, that the thought of sharing his life with anyone, however much he might use his wealth to secure himself some distance, was simply an impossibility. Besides it was not fair to the putative son to give him an old father.

He regretted his lack, not only because as he grew older it seemed that an empire without an heir apparent had less to hold the interest and concern of its founder, but also because in recent years he had begun to think of putting some of his money into land.