That struck me as an archetypical example of "churning" an account, which means repeatedly liquidating investments and reinvesting the assets to collect commissions on the new investments.
"Diamond Dust"
K. Kay Shearin
The unfortunate Comte de Chabannes is the archetypical "decent chap," the faithful but rejected swain who sacrifices himself for the welfare of his beloved without expectation of reward.
"The Princess of Montpensier"
Madame de La Fayette