There was in this room a harmony, a quiet order, and a soothing quality which made it a haven of rest to a literary man with jagged nerves. (Ch. 1; p. 15 re John Lexman's drawing-room)

Kara, who was a frank admirer of the comfort of the room and who lamented his own inability to secure with money the cosiness[sic] which John had obtained at little cost, went on a foraging expedition whilst his host applied himself to a proof which needed correcting. (Ch. 1; p. 19 re John Lexman's study)

T X found himself in a large room very handsomely furnished, but just lacking that sense of cosiness[sic] and comfort which is the feature of the Englishman's home. (Ch. 8; p. 115 re Kara's London house)

'Don't you know that great criminals are never influenced by material desires or by the prospect of concrete gains? The man who robs his employer's till in order to give the girl of his heart the 25s pearl and ruby brooch her soul desires gains nothing by the glow of satisfaction which comes to a man who is thought well of. The majority of crimes in the world are committed by people for the same reason --- they want to be thought well of. ...' (Ch. 8; p. 111 in conversation by T X Meredith to Mansus)