A Gentleman of Leisure · Chapter
Mr. McEachern explained
This chapter introduces John McEachern, a Captain of Police with a hidden past and grand ambitions.
What happens
This chapter introduces John McEachern, a Captain of Police with a hidden past and grand ambitions. Born John Forrest, an English gentleman, he changed his name and joined the New York police force, climbing the ranks through graft and corruption. His ultimate goal is to amass enough wealth to return to England as a gentleman of means, all for the sake of his daughter, Molly. The chapter reveals his meticulous financial planning and his satisfaction as a major stock investment pays off, signaling that the time for his great change has arrived.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Wealth
McEachern's entire life is a calculated ascent from poverty to riches, driven by a desire to reclaim a place in English high society for himself and his daughter.
Crime and Morality
McEachern's career is built on graft and corruption, yet he justifies it as a 'Holy War' for his daughter's future, blurring the lines between right and wrong.
Identity and Transformation
McEachern has transformed from John Forrest, an English gentleman, into a corrupt New York police captain, and now plans to reinvent himself again as a wealthy American gentleman in England.
Characters to notice
- John McEachern
Captain of Police, formerly John Forrest; a large, ambitious man who has built his fortune through graft and is now planning a return to English society for his daughter's sake.
- Molly McEachern
McEachern's daughter, the driving force behind his ambitions; she appears at the end of the chapter, entering the room with the dogs.
- Jimmy Pitt
Mentioned in the opening line as sleeping in his chair before being roused by Spike; not directly present in this chapter.
- Spike Mullins
Mentioned in the opening line as invading Jimmy's slumbers; not directly present in this chapter.
Key passages
“He was a man built on a large scale. Everything about him was large—his hands, his feet, his shoulders, his chest, and particularly his jaw—which even in his moments of calm was aggressive, and which stood out, when anything happened to ruffle him, like the ram of a battleship.”
McEachern was a massive man, with every part of him oversized, especially his jaw, which jutted out aggressively even when he was calm and became even more prominent when he was angry.
Describes McEachern's imposing physical presence.
“He had entered the Force with the single idea of becoming rich, and had set about achieving his object with a strenuous vigour that was as irresistible as his mighty locust-stick.”
From the start, McEachern joined the police force solely to get rich, pursuing this goal with relentless energy.
Highlights McEachern's primary motivation for joining the police.
“He meant to get back into society—the society of England.”
His ultimate goal was to return to English high society.
Reveals McEachern's long-term ambition.
“He closed his book with a contented sigh and lit another cigar. Cigars were his only personal luxury.”
Satisfied with his financial records, he sighed happily and lit a cigar, his one indulgence.
Shows McEachern's frugality and contentment with his financial success.