A young, newly hired consultant takes on what he thinks will be a waste of time in Herbert Foster's finance portfolio. Looking at his house and the rest of his assets, he estimates that Foster is not making much money, and therefore won't have much money to invest—which in turn won't make him much money on commission. However, Herbert surprises him when he secretively shows him the list of securities—it's an impressive list, worth $850,000. But Herbert seems wary, even uneasy with the money, and just hands control over to the now very excited consultant.

The consultant drops off a report at Herbert's house and speaks with his wife, Alma, who seems suspicious of the man. She tells him about Herbert's past, however, with his virtuous mother and good for nothing father, who abandoned his family to smoke, drink gin, and play jazz in dirty dives. The consultant then meets with Herbert, who explains further that he wants nothing to do with the money, that he wants to earn everything that he has himself, even if it means working constantly.

The consultant is disappointed by his client's lack of interest in what he deems to be the exciting work of keeping and increasing his fortune. He decides to go see Herbert at his weekend job at his restaurant, which turns out to be dirty and noisy. He can't find Herbert anywhere and determines that he must be lying to his wife, and that he is so adamant about the money in order to have time away from his family to do whatever it is he does. But when the consultant orders himself a drink, he finally sees Herbert, weaving through the crowd determinedly and disgustedly.

Herbert doesn't hear the consultant calling his name. He sits down at the piano in the corner and transforms into a new person, playing wildly and passionately. The consultant doesn't bother to try to speak with him—he understands now that Herbert doesn't want the money so he can have an excuse to keep working this job, to keep playing jazz piano just like his father did. Though his sense of respectability (which came from his mother and is shared by his wife) is so strong he feels shame about it, he can't help himself from being his father's son 3 nights a week.