# Brewster’s Millions — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Brewster’s Millions by George Barr McCutcheon.

- [A Birthday Dinner](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/i-a-birthday-dinner.md): Monty Brewster celebrates his 25th birthday with the 'Little Sons of the Rich' at Pettingill's studio. The festivities are interrupted repeatedly by Ellis, his grandfather's servant, who first delivers a birthday check, 
- [II: Shades of Aladdin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/ii-shades-of-aladdin.md): Montgomery Brewster inherits one million dollars unconditionally from his grandfather, Edwin Peter Brewster, and begins to navigate the sudden wealth, the public attention, and the advice of friends and acquaintances, in
- [III: Mrs. and Miss Gray](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/iii-mrs-and-miss-gray.md): Montgomery Brewster visits the Gray home, where he grew up alongside Margaret Gray. He attempts to share his newfound wealth with Mrs. Gray and Margaret, but they refuse out of pride. During the visit, Brewster receives 
- [IV: A Second](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/iv-a-second.md): Montgomery Brewster learns from Mr. Grant that he is the sole heir to his Uncle James T. Sedgwick's estate, valued at nearly seven million dollars, but with a proviso: he must be absolutely penniless on his 26th birthday
- [V: The Message from Jones](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/v-the-message-from-jones.md): Montgomery Brewster grapples with the daunting challenge of spending one million dollars in a year to inherit seven million more. After receiving a telegram from executor Swearengen Jones outlining strict rules—no reckle
- [Monty Cristo](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/vi-monty-cristo.md): Montgomery Brewster leases a lavish $23,000 apartment and hires Paul Pettingill to redecorate, spending extravagantly while secretly making conditional purchases. He retains his rooms at Mrs. Gray's, sends out invitation
- [A Lesson in Tact](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/vii-a-lesson-in-tact.md): Monty's butler Rawles tries to prevent the servants from striking for higher wages, but Monty rebukes him and supports the servants' right to ask for raises. Later, Monty visits Mrs. Dan DeMille to plan another dinner, w
- [VIII: The Forelock of Time](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/viii-the-forelock-of-time.md): Montgomery Brewster, tormented by jealousy over the Duke of Beauchamp's attention to Barbara Drew, realizes that his romantic pursuits are costing him thousands of dollars and threatening his inheritance challenge. He se
- [IX: Love and a Prizefight](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/ix-love-and-a-prizefight.md): Montgomery Brewster, frustrated by Swearengen Jones's telegram criticizing his spending, vents his anger and then places bets on a prizefight, confident of the outcome. He visits Barbara Drew and confesses his love, but 
- [X: Napoleon of Finance](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/x-napoleon-of-finance.md): Monty, now engaged to Barbara Drew, struggles to spend enough money to meet the inheritance terms. He decides to make a bold stock market gamble in Lumber and Fuel Common, buying ten thousand shares through his friend El
- [XI: Coals of Fire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xi-coals-of-fire.md): Monty Brewster's successful stock market venture brings him both acclaim and despair, as he must now find ways to lose $50,000 to meet his inheritance challenge. He struggles with the moral cost of his actions, including
- [Christmas Despair](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xii-christmas-despair.md): Monty Brewster is summoned to police headquarters to identify suspects in his recent robbery, where he unexpectedly encounters Bill, the man who robbed him. Monty vouches for Bill and later returns his stolen money, earn
- [A Friend in Need](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xiii-a-friend-in-need.md): Monty Brewster, in the depths of despair, learns that one of his banks has failed, wiping out over $100,000. Soon after, a run begins on the Bank of Manhattan Island, where he has $200,000 deposited and where Mrs. Gray a
- [XIV: Mrs. DeMille Entertains](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xiv-mrs-demille-entertains.md): Montgomery Brewster and Barbara Drew's relationship remains strained as they navigate a forced dinner together at Mrs. DeMille's. Colonel Drew reveals Monty's role in saving the bank, but Barbara misinterprets his motive
- [XV: The Cut Direct](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xv-the-cut-direct.md): Monty Brewster prepares for a lavish Spanish costume-ball while hiding his true financial motives from Peggy. His health deteriorates, leading to an emergency appendectomy and a period of convalescence at Mrs. Gray's, wh
- [XVI: In the Sunny South](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-sunny-south.md): Monty Brewster recuperates in a lavish rented cottage in St. Augustine, Florida, with a party including Joe Bragdon, Dr. Lotless, Subway Smith, and the Grays. Peggy Gray, troubled by the estrangement between Monty and Ba
- [XVII: The New Tenderfoot](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xvii-the-new-tenderfoot.md): Monty returns to New York in March after his illness, determined to accelerate his spending despite his friends' dismay. He consults Grant & Ripley about Swearengen Jones's views, exchanges darkly humorous telegrams with
- [XVIII: The Prodigal at Sea](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xviii-the-prodigal-at-sea.md): Monty Brewster, after Harrison's departure, takes stock of his finances and realizes he has spent over $450,000 but still has a large sum to dispose of before September 23rd. He plans a systematic campaign of extravaganc
- [XIX: One Hero and Another](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xix-one-hero-and-another.md): At Gibraltar, Monty receives a cable from Jones about a free silver agitation that could double his spending money, and he responds with characteristic extravagance. The Flitter hosts a brilliant dinner for garrison offi
- [Le Roi s’amuse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xx-le-roi-s-amuse.md): Montgomery Brewster moves his party to a hotel on the Riviera and orchestrates a private carnival for the town, spending lavishly to revive a local saint's day celebration. During the carnival, he rescues Peggy from an a
- [Fairyland](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxi-fairyland.md): Monty, desperate to spend his remaining fortune, learns of a deserted villa on Lake Como owned by a reclusive marquise. After his initial offers are rejected, he secures the villa by adding a luxury automobile to his bid
- [Prince and Peasants](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxii-prince-and-peasants.md): Monty Brewster, driven by a sense of duty and the need to continue his extravagant spending, leaves the idyllic villa and moves his party to Milan. He orders a fleet of automobiles from Paris, hires the La Scala opera ho
- [An Offer of Marriage](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxiii-an-offer-of-marriage.md): Monty and his party travel to Egypt aboard the Flitter, where a sheik named Mohammed becomes infatuated with Peggy Gray and demands to marry her. Monty initially treats the situation with amusement, allowing the sheik to
- [The Sheik's Strategy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxiv-the-sheik-s-strategy.md): Peggy pretends to accept the sheik's marriage proposal to punish Monty, but the joke turns dangerous when the sheik attempts to abduct her. Monty and the crew repel the initial attack, but later that night, the sheik's m
- [The Rescue of Peggy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxv-the-rescue-of-peggy.md): Monty Brewster, with less than two months left of his year-long challenge, is tormented by his love for Peggy Gray and his financial worries. During a yacht cruise, Peggy is abducted by Arab emissaries of Sheik Mohammed.
- [XXVI: Mutiny](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxvi-mutiny.md): Monty announces his plan to extend the yacht cruise to the North Cape, but his guests oppose the idea due to concerns over his extravagant spending. They hold a secret meeting and decide to mutiny, voting to sail back to
- [XXVII: A Fair Traitor](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxvii-a-fair-traitor.md): Monty's guests mutiny and imprison him in his stateroom, planning to sail the yacht to Boston against his wishes. After days of confinement, Peggy Gray defies the mutineers and frees Monty, finding him calmly reading.
- [XXVIII: A Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxviii-a-catastrophe.md): During a violent storm at sea, Peggy Gray frees Monty from his locked cabin, leading to a tender moment between them. Monty faces the mutineers and declares the yacht is heading to New York. The storm intensifies, causin
- [The Prodigal's Return](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxix-the-prodigal-s-return.md): Monty and his party return to New York after a disastrous yacht cruise, facing financial ruin and social scorn. He sells his belongings, pays off debts, and prepares for the final collapse of his fortune, while clinging 
- [XXX: The Promise of Thrift](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxx-the-promise-of-thrift.md): Monty Brewster, having spent the entire million-dollar inheritance from Edwin Brewster, is now nearly penniless with only $79.08 left. He faces the scorn of the town and the concern of Mrs. Gray and Peggy. In a heartfelt
- [XXXI: How the Million Disappeared](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxxi-how-the-million-disappeared.md): Monty prepares his final expenditure report for Swearengen Jones, detailing how he spent the entire million dollars. He collects receipts for every purchase, meets with friends Joe Bragdon and Elon Gardner to arrange his
- [The Night Before](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxxii-the-night-before.md): On the eve of his wedding, Monty Brewster, now penniless after spending his million, takes Peggy Gray for a final night of celebration. They dine quietly and attend a farewell supper at Pettingill's studio with the 'Litt
- [The Flight of Jones](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-flight-of-jones.md): Monty learns from Grant & Ripley that Swearengen Jones has disappeared with all of his inherited fortune, leaving him penniless. Despite the shock, Monty resolves to face his future with courage and marry Peggy as planne
- [The Last Word](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brewster_s_millions_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-last-word.md): Monty and Peggy are married in a small ceremony, but their joy is interrupted by the arrival of a letter from Swearengen Jones. The letter reveals that Jones has returned with the full inheritance, having followed the te

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