Yet,onthewhole,Ifeltacertaincomplacencyaboutitall;Iknewthatsufferingwasdisagreeable,Ihadlearnedhowtoavoidit,andImayhavehad,deepwithinme,afeelingthatImightmarryherafterall.
Meanwhilemylifewasfull,andgavepromiseofbecomingevenfuller,moreabsorbingandexcitingintheimmediatefuture.
Oneofthemostfascinatingfigures,tome,ofthatOrderbeingwoven,likeaclothofgold,outofourhithertodrabcivilization,——anOrderintowhichIwasreadyandeagertobeinitiated,——wasthatofAdolfScherer,thegiantGermanimmigrantattheheadoftheBoyneIronWorks.
Hislifewouldeasilylenditselftoriotousromance.Intheoldcountry,inavalleybelowthecastleperchedontherackabove,hehadbegunlifebytendinghisfather\'sgeese.Whatacontrastto\"Steeltown\"
withitssmellsandsickeningsummerheat,totheshantywhereMrs.
Scherertookboardersandbentoverthewash-tub!She,too,wasanimmigrant,butlivedtohearhernativeWagnerfromherownboxatCoventGarden;andhetoexplain,onthedeckofanimperialyacht,tothemanwhomighthavebeenhissovereigncertainprocessesinthemanufactureofsteelhithertountriedonthatsideoftheAtlantic.IncomparisonwithAdolfScherer,citizenofaoncedespiseddemocracy,theminorprinceinwhosedominionshehadoncetendedgeesewasofsmallaccountindeed!
TheAdolfSchererofthatday——thoughitisnotsolongagoastimeflies——wasevenmoresolidandimpressivethanthemanheafterwardsbecame,whenhereachedthedizzierheightsfromwhichhedeliveredtoaneagerpressopinionsonpoliticsandwar,eugenicsandwoman\'ssuffrageandothersubjectsthatarethedespairofspecialists.Hadhestucktosteel,hewouldhaveremainedinvulnerable.Buteventhenhewasbeginningtoabandonthefieldofproductionforthatofexploitation:
figurativelyspeaking,hehadtakentosoap,whichwiththeaidofwatermaybeblownintobeautiful,iridescentbubblestocharmtheeye.Muchgoodsoap,apparently,hasgonethatway,nevertoberecovered.
Everybodywhowasanybodybegantoblowbubblesaboutthattime,andthebiggerthebubblethegreateritsattractionforinvestorsofhard-earnedsavings.Outsideofthisloveforfinancialiridescence,letitbecalled,Mr.Schererseemedtocarelittlethenforglitterofanysort.
ShortlyafterhiselevationtothepresidencyoftheBoyneIronWorkshehadbeenelectedamemberoftheBoyneClub,——anhonourofwhich,somethought,heshouldhavebeenmoresensible;butgenerally,whenintown,hepreferredtolunchatalittleGermanrestaurantannexedtoasaloon,whereIusedoftentofindhimliterallytoweringabovethecloth,——forhewasagiantwithshortlegs,——hisnapkintuckedintohisshirtfront,engagedinlivelyconversationwiththeministeringHeinrich.Thechefattheclub,Mr.Schererinsisted,couldproducenothingequaltoHeinrich\'ssauer-krautandsausage.MyearliestrelationshipwithMr.
Schererwasthatofanerrandboy,ofbringingtohimforhisapprovalpaperswhichmightnotbeintrustedtoacommonmessenger.HisgruffnessandbrevitydisturbedmemorethanIcaredtoconfess.Iwasprettysurethatheeyedmewiththedispositionoftheself-madetobelievethatcollegeeducationsandgoodtailorsweretheheaviesthandicapswithwhichayoungmancouldbeburdened:andIsuspectedhimofaninimicalattitudetowardtheolderfamiliesofthecity.Certainmenpossessedhisconfidence;andhehadbuilt,asitwere,astockadeaboutthem,sternlykeepingtherestoftheworldoutside.InTheodoreWatlinghehadachildlikefaith.
ThusIstudiedhim,withadeliberationwhichitisthepurposeofthesechapterstoconfess,thoughhelittleknewthathewasbeingmadethesubjectofanalysis.NordidIeverventuretotalkwithhim,butheldstrictlytomyroleoferrandboy,——evenaftertheconvictioncameovermethathewasnolongerindifferenttomypresence.Thedayarrived,aftersomeyears,whenhesuddenlythrusttowardmeabig,hairyhandthatheldthedocumenthewasexamining.
\"Whodrewthis,Mr.Paret!\"hedemanded.
Mr.Ripon,Itoldhim.
TheBoyneWorkswerebuyingupcoal-mines,andthiswasacontractlookingtothepurchaseofoneinPutmanCounty,provided,afteracertainperiodofworking,theyieldandqualityshouldcomeuptospecifications.Mr.Schererrequestedmetoreadoneofthesections,whichpuzzledhim.Andinexplainingitanideaflashedoverme.
\"Doyoumindmymakingasuggestion,Mr.Scherer?\"Iventured.
\"Whatisit?\"heaskedbrusquely.
Ishowedhimhow,bythealterationofafewwords,thedifficultytowhichhehadreferredcouldnotonlybeeliminated,butthatcertainpossiblepenaltiesmightbeevaded,whiletheapparentmeaningofthesectionremainedunchanged.Inotherwords,itgavetheBoyneIronWorksanadvantagethatwasnotcontemplated.Heseizedthepaper,staredatwhatIhadwritteninpencilonthemargin,andthenstaredatme.
Abruptly,hebegantolaugh.
\"AskMr.Wadingwhathethinksofit?\"
\"Iintendedto,providedithadyourapproval,sir,\"Ireplied.
\"Youhavemyapproval,Mr.Paret,\"hedeclared,rathercryptically,andwiththeslightGermanhardeningofthev\'sintowhichherelapsedattimes.\"BringittotheWorksthisafternoon.\"
Mr.Wadingagreedtothealteration.Helookedatmeamusedly.
\"Yes,Ithinkthat\'sanimprovement,Hugh,\"hesaid.IhadafeelingthatIhadgainedground,andfromthistimeonIthoughtIdetectedachangeinhisattitudetowardme;therecouldbenodoubtaboutthenewattitudeofMr.Scherer,whowouldoftengreetmenowwithasmileandajoke,andsometimeswentsofarastoaskmyopinionsThen,aboutsixmonthslater,camethefamousRibblevalecasethatarousedthemoralindignationofsomanypersons,amongwhomwasPerryBlackwood.
\"YouknowaswellasIdo,Hugh,howthisthingisbeingmanipulated,\"hedeclaredatTom\'soneSundayevening;\"therewasnothingthematterwiththeRibblevaleSteelCompany——itwasasrightasrainbeforeLeonardDickinsonandGriersonandSchererandthatcrowdyoutrainwithbegantotalkitdownattheClub.Oh,they\'reverycompassionate.I\'veheard\'em.Dickinson,privately,doesn\'tthinkmuchofRibblevalepaper,andPugh\"(thepresidentoftheRibblevale)\"seemsworriedandlooksbadly.
It\'sallveryclever,butI\'dhatetotellyouinplainwordswhatI\'dcallit.\"
\"Goahead,\"Ichallengedhimaudaciously.\"Youhaven\'tanyproofthattheRibblevalewasn\'tintrouble.\"
\"IheardMr.Pughtellmyfathertheotherdayitwasad——doutrage.Hecouldn\'tcatchupwiththeserumours,andsomeofhisstockholderswereliquidating.\"
\"You,don\'tsupposePughwouldwanttoadmithissituation,doyou?\"I
asked.
\"Pugh\'sastraightman,\"retortedPerry.\"That\'smorethanIcansayforanyoftheothergang,savingyourpresence.TheunpleasanttruthisthatSchererandtheBoynepeoplewanttheRibblevale,andyououghttoknowitifyoudon\'t.\"Helookedatmeveryhardthroughtheglasseshehadlatelytakentowearing.Tom,whowasloungingbythefire,shiftedhispositionuneasily.Ismiled,andtookanothercigar.
\"IbelieveRalphisright,Perry,whenhecallsyouasentimentalist.
Foryouthere\'satragedybehindeveryordinarybusinesstransaction.
TheRibblevalepeoplearehavingahardtimetokeeptheirheadsabovewater,andimmediatelyyousmellconspiracy.DickinsonandSchererhavebeentalkingitdown.Howaboutit,Tom?\"
ButTom,inthesedebates,wasinclinedtobenoncommittal,althoughitwascleartheytroubledhim.
\"Oh,don\'taskme,Hughie,\"hesaid.
\"IsupposeIoughttocultivatethescientificpointofview,andlookwithimpartialinterestatthisindustrialcannibalism,\"returnedPerry,sarcastically.\"Eatorbeeatenthat\'swhatenlightenedself-interesthascometo.Afterall,Ralphwouldsay,itisnature,theinsectworldoveragain,thevictimdupedandcrippledbeforeheisdevoured,andthelawyer——howshallIputit?——facilitatingtheprocessesofswallowinganddigesting\"
TherewasnousearguingwithPerrywhenhewasinthisvein
SinceIamnotwritingatechnicaltreatise,IneednotgointothedetailsoftheRibblevalesuit.Sinceittosaythattheaffair,afterawhile,cameapparentlytoadeadlock,owingtotheimpossibilityofgettingcertaindefiniteinformationfromtheRibblevalebooks,whichhadbeentakenoutofthestate.Thetreasurer,forreasonsofhisown,remainedoutofthestatealso;theordinarycourseofsummoninghimbeforeamagistrateinanotherstatehadnaturallybeenresortedto,butthedesiredevidencewasnotforthcoming.
\"Thetroubleis,\"Mr.WadingexplainedtoMr.Scherer,\"thatthereisnolawinthevariousstateswithasufficientpenaltyattachedthatwillcompelthewitnesstodivulgefactshewishestoconceal.\"
ItwasthemiddleofaFebruaryafternoon,andtheywereseatedindeep,leatherchairsinonecornerofthereadingroomoftheBoyneClub.Theyhadtheplacetothemselves.Fowndeswastherealso,onelegtwistedaroundtheotherinfamiliarfashion,aboredlookonhislongandsallowface.Mr.Wadinghadtelephonedtotheofficeformetobringthemsomepapersbearingonthecase.
\"Sitdown,Hugh,\"hesaidkindly.
\"Nowwehavepresentagenuinelegalmind,\"saidMr.Scherer,intheplayfulmannerhehadadoptedoflate,whileIgrinnedappreciativelyandtookachair.Mr.WatlingpresentlysuggestedkidnappingtheRibblevaletreasureruntilheshouldpromisetoproducethebooksastheonlywayoutofwhatseemedanimpasse.ButMr.Schererbroughtdownahugefistonhisknee.
\"Itellyouitisnojoke,Watling,we\'vegottowinthatsuit,\"heasserted.
\"That\'sallverywell,\"repliedMr.Watling.\"Butwe\'rearespectablefirm,youknow.Wehaven\'thadtoresorttosafe-blowing,asyet.\"
Mr.Scherershruggedhisshoulders,asmuchastosayitwereamatterofindifferencetohimwhatmethodswereresortedto.Mr.Watling\'seyesmetmine;hisglancewasamused,yetIthoughtIreadinitaqueryastotheadvisability,inmypresence,ofgoingtoodeeplyintothequestionofwaysandmeans.Imayhavebeenwrong.Atanyrate,itssuddeneffectwastoemboldenmetogivevoicetoanideathathadbeguntosimmerinmymind,thatexcitedme,andyetIhadfearedtoutterit.
Thislookofmychief\'s,andthelightertonetheconversationhadtakendecidedme.
\"Whywouldn\'titbepossibletodrawupabilltofitthesituation?\"I
inquired.
Mr.Wadingstarted.
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"heaskedquickly.
Allthreelookedatme.Ifeltthebloodcomeintomyface,butitwastoolatetodrawback.
\"Well——thelegislatureisinsession.Andsince,asMr.Watlingsays,thereisnosufficientpenaltyinotherstatestocompelthewitnesstoproducetheinformationdesired,whynotdrawupabilland——andhaveitpassed——\"Ipausedforbreath——\"imposingasufficientpenaltyonhomecorporationsintheeventofsuchevasions.TheRibblevaleSteelCompanyisahomecorporation.\"
IhadshotmyboltTherefollowedwhatwasformeananxioussilence,whilethethreeofthemcontinuedtostareatme.Mr.Watlingputthetipsofhisfingerstogether,andIbecameawarethathewasnotoffended,thathewasthinkingrapidly.
\"ByGeorge,whynot,Fowndes?\"hedemanded.
\"Well,\"saidFowndes,\"there\'sanelementofriskinsuchaproceedingI
neednotdwellupon.\"
\"Risk!\"criedtheseniorpartnervigorously.\"There\'sriskineverything.They\'llhowl,ofcourse.Buttheyhowlanyway,andnobodyeverlistenstothem.They\'llsayit\'sspeciallegislation,andthePilotwillprintsensationaleditorialsforafewdays.Butwhatofit?
Allofthathashappenedbefore.Itellyou,ifwecan\'tseethosebooks,we\'lllosethesuit.That\'sinblackandwhite.And,asamatterofjustice,we\'reentitledtoknowwhatwewanttoknow.\"
\"Theremightbetwoopinionsastothat,\"observedFowndes,withhissardonicsmile.
Mr.Watlingpaidnoattentiontothisremark.Hewasalreadydeepinthought.Itwascharacteristicofhismindtoleapforward,seizeasuggestionthatoftenappearedchimericaltoamanlikeFowndesandturnitintoanaccomplishedFact.\"Ibelieveyou\'vehitit,Hugh,\"hesaid.
\"Weneedn\'tbotheraboutthepowersofthecourtsinotherstates.We\'llputintothisbillanappealtoourcourtforanorderontheclerktocompelthewitnesstocomebeforethecourtandtestify,andwe\'llprovideforaspecialcommissionertotakedepositionsinthestatewherethewitnessis.Iftheofficersofahomecorporationwhoareoutsideofthestaterefusetotestify,thepenaltywillbethattherationgoesintothehandsofareceiver.\"
Fowndeswhistled.
\"That\'sgoingsome!\"hesaid.
\"Well,we\'vegottogosome.Howaboutit,Scherer?\"
EvenMr.Scherer\'sbrowneyesweresnapping.
\"Wehavegottowinthatsuit,Watling.\"
Wewereallexcited,evenFowndes,Ithink,thoughheremainedexpressionless.Ourswasthetenseexcitementofprimitivemaninchase:
thequarrywhichhadthreatenedtoeludeuswasagaininview,andnotunlikelytofallintoourhands.Addtothisfeeling,onmypart,thethrillthatitwasIwhohadputthemonthescent.Ihadallthesensationsofanaspiringyoungbravewhoforthefirsttimeisadmittedtothecouncilsofthetribe!
\"Itoughttobeapopularbill,too,\"Mr.Schemerwassaying,withasmileofironicappreciationatthethoughtofdemagoguesadvocatingit.
\"WeshouldhaveoneofLawler\'sfriendsintroduceit.\"
\"Oh,weshallhaveitproperlyintroduced,\"repliedMr.Wading.
\"Itmaycomebackatus,\"suggestedFowndespessimistically.\"TheBoyneIronWorksisahomecorporationtoo,ifIamnotmistaken.\"
\"TheBoyneIronWorkshasthefirmofWading,FowndesandRiponbehindit,\"assertedMr.Scherer,withwhatstruckmeasamagnificentfaith.
\"Youmustn\'tforgetParet,\"Mr.Watlingremindedhim,withawinkatme.
Wehadrisen.Mr.Schererlaidahandonmyarm.
\"No,no,Idonotforgethim.Hewillnotpermitmetoforgethim.\"
Aremark,Ithought,thatbetrayedsomeinsightintomycharacterMr.
Watlingcalledforpenandpaperandmadethenandthereadraftoftheproposedbill,fornotimewastobelost.ItwasdarkwhenwelefttheClub,andIrecalltheelationIfeltandstrovetoconcealasI
accompaniedmychiefbacktotheoffice.Thestenographersandclerksweregone;aloneinthelibrarywegotdownthestatutesandsettowork.
toperfectthebillfromtheroughdraft,onwhichMr.Fowndeshadwrittenhissuggestions.IfeltthatacompleteyetsubtlechangehadcomeovermyrelationshipwithMr.Watling.
InthemidstofourlaboursheaskedmetocalluptheattorneyfortheRailroad.Mr.Gorsewasstillathisoffice.
\"Hello!Isthatyou,Miller?\"Mr.Watlingsaid.\"ThisisWading.WhencanIseeyouforafewminutesthisevening?Yes,IamleavingforWashingtonatninethirty.Eighto\'clock.Allright,I\'llbethere.\"
Itwasalmosteightbeforehegotthedraftfinishedtohissatisfaction,andIhadpickeditoutonthetypewriter.AsIhandedittohim,mychiefhelditamoment,gazingatmewithanoddsmile.
\"Youseemtohaveacquiredagooddealofusefulknowledge,hereandthere,Hugh,\"heobserved.
\"I\'vetriedtokeepmyeyesopen,Mr.Watling,\"Isaid.
\"Well,\"hesaid,\"thereareagreatmanythingsayoungmanpractisinglawinthesedayshastolearnforhimself.AndifIhadn\'tgivenyoucreditforsomecleverness,Ishouldn\'thavewantedyouhere.There\'sonlyonewaytolookat——atthesematterswehavebeendiscussing,myboy,that\'sthecommon-senseway,andifamandoesn\'tgetthatpointofviewbyhimself,nobodycanteachittohim.Ineedn\'tenlargeuponit\"
\"No,sir,\"Isaid.
Hesmiledagain,butimmediatelybecameserious.
\"IfMr.Gorseshouldapproveofthisbill,I\'mgoingtosendyoudowntothecapital——to-night.Canyougo?\"
Inodded.
\"Iwantyoutolookoutforthebillinthelegislature.Ofcoursetherewon\'tbemuchtodo,excepttostandby,butyouwillgetabetterideaofwhatgoesondownthere.\"
Ithankedhim,andtoldhimIwoulddomybest.
\"I\'msureofthat,\"hereplied.\"Nowit\'stimetogotoseeGorse.\"
ThelegaldepartmentoftheRailroadoccupiedanentireflooroftheCornBankbuilding.Ihadoftenbeenthereonvariouserrands,havingonoccasionsdeliveredsealedenvelopestoMr.Gorsehimself,approachinghimintheordinarywaythroughaseriesofoffices.Butnow,followingMr.Watlingthroughthedimlylightedcorridor,wecametoadooronwhichnonamewaspainted,andwhichwaspresentlyopenedbyastenographer.Therewasintheproceedingatouchofmysterythatrevivedkeenlymyboyishloveforromance;broughtbackthedayswhenI
hadbeen,inturn,CaptainKiddandAliBaba.
Ihaveneverrealizedmorestronglythaninthatmomentthepsychologicalforceofprestige.Littlebylittle,forfiveyears,anestimateoftheextentofMillerGorse\'spowerhadbeencominghometome,andhisfeaturesstoodinmymindforhisparticularkindofpower.Hewasatremendousworker,andoftenremainedinhisofficeuntiltenandelevenatnight.Hedismissedthestenographerbythewaveofahandwhichseemedtothrustherbodilyoutoftheroom.
\"Hello,Miller,\"saidMr.Watling.
\"Hello,Theodore,\"repliedMr.Gorse.
\"ThisisParet,ofmyoffice.\"
\"Iknow,\"saidMr.Gorse,andnoddedtowardme.IwasimpressedbythefelicitywithwhichacartoonistofthePilothadoncecaricaturedhimbytheuseofcurvedlines.Thecircleoftheheavyeyebrowsendedatthewidenostrils;themouthwasacrescent,butboweddownwards;theheavyshoulderswererounded.Indeed,theonlystraightlinetobediscernedabouthimwasthatofhishair,blackasbitumen,bangedacrosshisforehead;evenhispolishedporphyryeyeswereconstructedonsomecurvilinearprinciple,andneverseemedtofocus.ItmightbesaidofMr.Gorsethathehadanoverwhelmingimpersonality.Onecouldneverbequitesurethatone\'swordsreachedthemark.
InspiteoftheintimacywhichIknewexistedbetweenthem,inmypresenceatleastMr.Gorse\'smannerwaslittledifferentwithMr.
Watlingthanitwaswithothermen.Mr.Wadingdidnotseemtomind.Hepulledupachairclosetothedeskandbegan,withoutanypreliminaries,toexplainhiserrand.
\"It\'sabouttheRibblevaleaffair,\"hesaid.\"Youknowwehaveasuit.\"
Gorsenodded.
\"We\'vegottogetatthebooks,Miller,——that\'sallthereistoit.I
toldyousotheotherday.Well,we\'vefoundoutaway,Ithink.\"
Hethrusthishandinhispocket,whiletherailroadattorneyremainedimpassive,anddrewoutthedraftofthebill.Mr.Gorsereadit,thenreaditoveragain,andlaiditdowninfrontofhim.
\"Well,\"hesaid.
\"Iwanttoputthatthroughbothhousesandhavethegovernor\'ssignaturetoitbytheendoftheweek.\"
\"Itseemsalittleraw,atfirstsight,Theodore,\"saidMr.Gorse,withthesuspicionofasmile.
Mychieflaughedalittle.
