[PW] ? Trying to find author and name of a short story

[Dan McGuire]

Folks,

I am trying to recall the author and title of a short story that I
once read. All that I recall is the plot of the story, which is as
follows: A wealthy man tries to buy a valuable object (a painting? a
walking stick?) from an elderly gentleman. The gentleman rebuffs the
author, perhaps because he considers the man rude, ungracious, or
unrefined. The wealthy man hires an ambitious young man to help him
drive the gentleman into financial ruin, and the young man is
successful in his task. Then the young man goes to meet the gentleman,
now destitude, to make him an offer. The young man is polite and
casually askes about the painting. The gentleman simply gives the
object to the young man, at no charge, because the young man's
admiration seemed genuine and because he is such a gracious person.

Can anyone recall the name of the author and title? I believe the
story is well over 75 years old.

Thanks very much
DAN MCGUIRE