Railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt had a number of eccentricities to go along with his wealth. The only kind of meat that he would eat was gopher. One time his cook didn't have any gopher and substituted mole meat in a dish. After the meal was over Vanderbilt called the cook into the dining room and congratulated him on an excellent meal. The cook, thinking himself in the clear, bowed and thanked Vanderbilt for the praise. But when the cook retired to his room later he found that all of his belongings had been stacked on the front lawn and set on fire. He was handed a an envelope with $20 and a letter in Vanderbilt's own handwriting saying "Did you think that I don't know what a goddamn mole tastes like?"