\"Whatbecameofit?\"
\"Yououghttoknow.\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"
\"JustwhatIsay,Paret,\"heansweredslowly.\"Yououghttoknow,ifanyoneknows.\"
Iconsideredthisamoment,moresoberly.IthoughtImighthavecountedonmyfingersthenumberofmencognizantofmyconnectionwiththecase.
Idecidedthathewasguessing.
\"Ithinkyoushouldexplainthat,\"Itoldhim.
\"Thetimemaycome,whenyou\'llhavetoexplainit.\"
\"Isthatathreat?\"Idemanded.
\"Athreat?\"herepeated.\"Notatall.\"
\"Butyouareaccusingme——\"
\"Ofwhat?\"heinterruptedsuddenly.
Hehadmadeitnecessaryformetodefinethenatureofhischarges.
\"Ofhavinghadsomeconnectionwiththeaffairinquestion.\"
\"WhateverelseImaybe,I\'mnotafool,\"hesaidquietly.\"Neitherthedistrictattorney\'soffice,noryoungArbuthnothadbrainsenoughtogetthemoutofthatscrape.Jasondidn\'thaveinfluenceenoughwiththejudiciary,and,asIhappentoknow,therewasagooddealofmoneyspent.\"
\"Youmaybecalledupontoproveit,\"Iretorted,ratherhotly.
\"SoImay.\"
Histone,farfrombeingdefiant,hadinitanoteofsadness.Ilookedathim.Whatwerehispotentialities?WasitnotjustpossiblethatI
shouldhavetorevisemyideaofhim,acknowledgethathemightbecomemoreformidablethanIhadthought?
Therewasanawkwardsilence.
\"Youmustn\'timagine,Paret,thatIhaveanypersonalanimusagainstyou,oragainstanyofthemenwithwhomyou\'reassociated,\"hewenton,afteramoment.\"I\'msorryyou\'reonthatside,that\'sall,——Itoldyousooncebefore.I\'mnotcallingyounames,I\'mnottalkingaboutmoralityandimmorality.Immorality,whenyoucomedowntoit,isoftenjusttheoppositiontoprogressthatcomesfromblindness.Idon\'tmakethemistakeofblamingafewindividualsfortheevilsofmodernindustrialsociety,andontheotherhandyoumustn\'tblameindividualsforthediscomfortsofwhatyoucallthereformmovement,forthatmovementismerelyasymptom——asymptomofadiseaseduetoachangeinthestructureofsociety.We\'llneverhaveanyhappinessorrealprosperityuntilwecurethatdisease.Iwasinclinedtoblameyouonce,atthecapitalthattime,becauseitseemedtomethatamanwithalltheadvantagesyouhavehadandamindlikeyoursdidn\'thavemuchexcuse.ButI\'vethoughtaboutitsince;IrealizenowthatI\'vehadagoodmanymore\'advantages\'
thanyou,andtotellyouthetruth,Idon\'tseehowyoucouldhavecomeoutanywhereelsethanwhereyouare,——allyoursurroundingsandtrainingwereagainstit.Thatdoesn\'tmeanthatyouwon\'tgraspthesituationsomeday——Ihaveanideayouwill.It\'sjustanidea.Themanwhooughttobecondemnedisn\'tthemanthatdoesn\'tunderstandwhat\'sgoingon,butthemanwhocomestounderstandandpersistsinopposingit.\"Heroseandlookeddownatmewiththequeer,disturbingsmileIremembered.
\"Igetoffatthiscorner,\"headded,ratherdiffidently.\"Ihopeyou\'llforgivemeforbeingpersonal.Ididn\'tmeantobe,butyouratherforceditonme.\"
\"Oh,that\'sallright,\"Ireplied.Thecarstopped,andhehurriedoff.
Iwatchedhistallfigureasitdisappearedamongthecrowdonthesidewalk
Ireturnedtomyofficeinoneofthosemoodsthatarethemoredisagreeablebecauseconflicting.To-dayinparticularIhadbeenarousedbywhatTomusedtocallKrebs\'s\"crust,\"andasIsatatmydeskwarmwavesofresentmentwentthroughmeattheverynotionofhistellingmethatmyviewwaslimitedandthatthereforemyprofessionalconductwastobeforgiven!Itwashe,thefanatic,whosawthingsinthelargerscale!anassumptionthemoreexasperatingbecauseatthemomenthemadeithealmostconvincedmethathedid,andIwasunabletoachieveforhimthemeasureofcontemptIdesired,fortheincident,themeasureofridiculeitdeserved.Myrealanimuswasduetothefactthathehadmanagedtoshakemyself-confidence,totaketheflavouroutofmyachievements,——aflavourthatwasinthecourseofanhourtobecompletelyrestoredbyoneofthoseinterestingcoincidencesoccasionallyoccurringinlife.Ayoungmemberofmystaffenteredwithatelegram;I
toreitopen,andsatstaringatitamomentbeforeIrealizedthatitbroughttomethegreatesthonourofmycareer.
TheBanker-PersonalityinNewYorkhadsummonedmeforconsultation.Toberecognizedbyhimconferredindeedanennoblement,theStarandGarter,sotospeak,oftheonlygreatrealminAmerica,thatofhighfinance;andtheyellowpieceofpaperIheldinmyhandinstantlyre-
magnetizedme,renewedmyenergy,andIhurriedhometopackmybaginordertocatchtheseveno\'clocktrain.IannouncedthenewstoMaude.
\"Iimagineit\'sbecauseheknowsIhavemadesomethingofastudyofthecoalroadssituation,\"Iadded.
\"I\'mglad,Hugh,\"shesaid.\"Isupposeit\'sagreatcompliment.\"
Neverhadherinadequacytoappreciatemycareerbeenmoreapparent!I
lookedathercuriously,torealizeoncemorewithpeculiarsharpnesshowfarwewereapart;butnowtheresolutionsIhadmade——andnevercarriedout——onthatfirstChristmasinthenewhomewerelacking.Indeed,itwasthefutilityofsuchresolutionsthatstruckmeatthismoment.Ifhermannerhadbeenmerelyoneofindifference,itwouldinawayhavebeeneasiertobear;shewassimplyincapableofgraspingthesignificanceoftheevent,themeaningtomeoftheyearsofunceasing,ambitiouseffortitcrowned.
\"Yes,itissomethingofarecognition,\"Ireplied.\"IsthereanythingI
cangetforyouinNewYork?Idon\'tknowhowlongIshallhavetostay——
I\'lltelegraphyouwhenI\'mgettingback.\"Ikissedherandhurriedouttotheautomobile.AsIdroveoffIsawherstillstandinginthedoorwaylookingaftermeInthestationIhadafewminutestotelephoneNancy.
\"Ifyoudon\'tseemeforafewdaysit\'sbecauseI\'vegonetoNewYork,\"
Iinformedher.
\"Somethingimportant,I\'msure.\"
\"Howdidyouguess?\"Idemanded,andheardherlaugh.
\"Comebacksoonandtellmeaboutit,\"shesaid,andIwalked,exhilarated,tothetrainAsIspedthroughthenight,staringoutofthewindowintothedarkness,IreflectedonthemanIwasgoingtosee.Butatthattime,althoughherepresentedtomethequintessenceofachievementandpower,Ididnotbyanymeansgraspthemanysidedsignificanceofthephenomenonhepresented,thoughIwaskeenlyawareofhisinfluence,andthatmenspokeofhimwithbatedbreath.Presidentscameandwent,kingsandemperorshadresponsibilitiesandweresubjectdailytoannoyances,butthismanwasalawuntohimself.Hedidexactlywhathechose,andcompelledothermentodoit.Wherevercommercereigned,——andwherediditnot?——hewaskingandheadofitsHolyEmpire,PopeandEmperoratonce.Forhehadhiscodeofethics,hisreligion,andthosewhorebelled,whofailedtoconform,heexcommunicated;acodesomethinglikethemapofEurope,——apparentlyinconsistentinplaces.
WhatIdidnotthencomprehendwasthathewastheAmericanPrinciplepersonified,thesupremeindividualassertionoftheconvictionthatgovernmentshouldremainmodestlyinthebackgroundwhiletheefficientacquiredthesupremacythatwastheirsbynaturalright;norhadI
graspedatthattimethecrowningachievementofaunitythatfusedChristianitywiththoseacquisitivedispositionssaidtobeinherentinhumanity.InhimtheLionandtheLamb,theEagleandtheDovedwelttogetherinamityandpower.
NewYork,alwaysacongenialplacetogentlemenofvitalityandmeansandinfluentialconnections,hadneverappearedtomemoresparkling,moreinspiring.Winterhadrelented,springhadnotasyetbegun.AndasI
satinacornerofthedining-roomofmyhotellookingoutonthesunlitavenueIwasconsciousofpartakingofthevigourandconfidenceofthewell-dressed,clear-eyedpeoplewhowalkedordrovepastmywindowwiththeairofaconqueringrace.Whatelsewasthereintheworldmoreworthhavingthanthisconqueringsense?Religionmightoffercharmstotheweak.Yetherereligionitselfbecamesensible,andworethegarbofprosperity.Thestoneworkofthetallchurchonthecornerwasalllace;
andtheverysaintsintheirniches,whohadknownmartyrdomandpoverty,seemedtohaverenouncedtheseasfoolish,andtolookdowncomplacentlyontheprocessionofwealthandpowerAcrossthestreet,behindasheetofglass,wasacarrosseriewhereweredisplayedtheshiningyellowandblackpanelsofaclosedautomobile,thecostofwhichwouldhavebuiltafarm-houseandstockedabarn.
Ateleveno\'clock,theappointedhour,IwasinWallStreet.Sendinginmyname,Iwasspeedilyusheredintoaroomcontainingatable,aroundwhichwereseveralmen;butmyeyesweredrawnatoncetothefigureofthegreatbankerwhosat,massiveandpreponderant,atoneend,smokingacigar,andlisteninginsilencetotheconversationIhadinterrupted.
Herosecourteouslyandgavemehishand,andaglancethatisunforgettable.
\"Itisgoodofyoutocome,Mr.Paret,\"hesaidsimply,asthoughhissummonshadnotbeenacommand.\"Perhapsyouknowsomeofthesegentlemen.\"
OneofthemwasourUnitedStatesSenator,TheodoreWatling.He,asitturnedout,hadbeensummonedfromWashington.OfcourseIsawhimfrequently,havingfromtimetotimetogotoWashingtononvariouserrandsconnectedwithlegislation.Thoughspruceanddebonnairasever,intheblackmorningcoatheinvariablywore,heappearedolderthanhehadonthedaywhenIhadenteredhisoffice.Hegreetedmewarmly,asalways.
\"Hugh,I\'mgladtoseeyouhere,\"hesaid,withaslightemphasisonthelastword.Mylegalcareerwasreachingitslogicalclimax,theclimaxhehadforeseen.Andheadded,tothebanker,thathehadbroughtmeup.
\"Thenhewastrainedinagoodschool,\"remarkedthatpersonage,affably.
Mr.Barbour,thepresidentofourRailroad,waspresent,andnoddedtomekindly;alsoapresidentofasmallerroad.Inaddition,thereweretwoNewYorkattorneysofgreatprominence,whomIhadmet.Thebanker\'sownspeciallieutenantofthelaw,Mr.ClementT.Grolier,forwhomIlooked,wasabsent;butitwasforthwithexplainedthathewasoffering,thatmorning,aresolutionofsomeimportanceintheConventionofhisChurch,butthathewouldbepresentafterlunch.
\"Ihaveaskedyoutocomehere,Mr.Paret,\"saidthebanker,\"notonlybecauseIknowsomethingpersonallyofyourlegalability,butbecauseI
havebeentoldbyMr.SchererandMr.Barbourthatyouhappentohaveconsiderableknowledgeofthesituationwearediscussing,aswellassomeexperiencewithcasesinvolvingthatstatutesomewhathazytolayminds,theShermananti-trustlaw.\"
Asmilewentaroundthetable.Mr.Watlingwinkedatme;Inodded,butsaidnothing.Thebankerwasnotamantolistentosuperfluouswords.
Thekeynoteofhischaracterwasdespatch
Thesubjectoftheconference,likemanyquestionsbitterlydebatedandfoughtoverintheirtime,hasintheyearIwritethesewordscometobeofmerelyacademicinterest.Indeed,theverysituationwediscussedthatdayhasbeencitedinsomeofourmoderntext-booksasaclassicconsequenceofthatarchaicschoolofeconomicstowhichthenameofManchesterisattached.Somehalfdozenorsooftherailroadsrunningthroughtheanthracitecoalregionhadpooledtheirinterests,——anextremelyprofitableproceeding.Thepublicpaid.Wedeemeditquitelogicalthatthepublicshouldpay——havingbeencreatedlargelyforthatpurpose;andverynaturallyweresentedthefactthatthemeddlingPersonwhohadgotintotheWhiteHousewithoutaskinganybody\'sleave,——whoapparentlydidnotbelieveintheinfallibilityofourlegalBible,theConstitution,——shouldmaintainthattheanthraciteroadshadformedacombinationinrestraintoftrade,shouldlaydownthepreposterousdoctrine——sosubversiveoftheRightsofMan——thatrailroadsshouldnotowncoalmines.Congresshadpassedalawtomeetthiscontention,suithadbeenbrought,andinthelowercourtthegovernmenthadwon.
Asthedayworeonournumbersincreased,wewerejoinedbyotherlawyersofrenown,nottheleastofwhomwasMr.Grolierhimself,freshfromhistriumphoverreligiousheresyinhisChurchConvention.Thenoteoftheconferencebecametingedwithexasperation,andcertaingentlemenseizedtheopportunitytorelievetheirpent-upfeelingsonthesubjectofthePresidentandhisslavishadvisers,——someofwhom,beforetheycameunderthespellofhissorcery,hadoncebeensoundlawyersandsensiblemen.
WiththeexceptionofthegreatBankerhimself,whomadefewcomments,TheodoreWatlingwasaccordedthemostdeference;asoneoftheleadersofthatindomitablegroupofsenatorswhohaddaredtostandupagainstpopularclamour,hisopinionswereofgreatvalue,andhistacticaladvicewaslistenedtowithrespect.Ifeltmorepridethaneverinmyformerchief,whohadlostnoneofhischarm.Whileinnowayminimizingtheseriousnessofthesituation,hiswisdomwastempered,asalways,withhumour;hemanaged,asitwere,toneutralizetheacidinjectedintotheatmospherebyothergentlemenpresent;healoneseemedtobearnoanimusagainsttheAuthorofourtroubles;suaveandcalm,goodnatured,hesometimesbroughtthecompanyintoroarsoflaughterandevensucceededinbringingoccasionalsmilestothefaceofthemanwhohadsummonedus——whenrelatingsomecharacteristicstoryofthequeergeniuswhomthefates(undoubtedlyasapracticaljoke)hadmadethechiefmagistrateoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Allgeniuseshaveweaknesses;Mr.WadinghadmadeastudyofthePresident\'s,andmorethanoncehadluredhimintoanimpasse.ThecasehadbeenappealedtotheSupremeCourt,andMr.Wading,withremarkableconcisenessandpenetration,reviewedthecharacteristicsofeachandeverymemberofthattribunal,allofwhomheknewintimately.Theywere,ofcourse,notsubjectto\"advice,\"asweresomeofthegentlemenwhosatonourstatecourts;nosaneandself-respectingAmericanwouldpresumeto\"approach\"
them.Neverthelesstheywerehuman,anditwerewisetotakeaccount,intheconductofthecase,oftheprobablebiasofeachindividual.
ThePresident,oversteppinghisconstitutional,Newtonianlimits,mightproposelaws,Congressmightacquiesceinthem,buttheSupremeCourt,afterlisteningtolawyerslikeGrolier(andhebowedtotheattorney),madethem:madethem,hemighthaveadded,withoutresponsibilitytoanymaninouruniqueRepublicthatscornedkingsandapotheosizedlawyers.
AMartianwithasenseofhumourwitnessingastormysessionofCongresswouldhavegiggledatthethoughtofafewtranquilgentlemeninanotherroomoftheCapitolwaitingtodecidewhatthepeople\'srepresentativesmeant——orwhethertheymeantanything
ForthefirsttimesinceIhadknownTheodoreWatling,however,Isawhimintheshadowofanotherindividual;amanwho,likeapowerfulmagnet,continuallydrewourglances.Whenwespoke,wealmostinvariablyaddressedhim,hisrarewordsfelllikeboltsupontheconsciousness.
Therewasnoapparentriftinthatpersonality.
When,aboutfiveo\'clock,theconferencewasendedandweweredismissed,UnitedStatesSenator,railroadpresidents,field-marshalsofthelaw,thegreatbankerfellintoaneagerconversationwithGrolierovertheCanononDivorce,thesubjectofwarmdebateintheconventionthatday.
Grolier,itappeared,hadledhispartyagainstthetheologicalliberals.
Hebelievedthatlawwasstatic,butnoneknewbetteritsplasticity;
thatitwasinfallible,butnonesowellashecouldfindatextoneitherside.Hisreputationwasnotofthepopular,newspapersort,butwasknowntoconnoisseurs,editors,financiers,statesmenandjudges,——tothose,inshort,whosebusinessitistomakethemselvesfamiliarwiththeinstrumentsofpower.Hewasthebanker\'schieflegaladviser,thebanker\'srapieroftemperedsteel,sheathedfromthevulgarviewsavewhenitflashedforthonaswifterrand.
\"I\'mgladtobeassociatedwithyouinthiscase,Mr.Paret,\"Mr.Groliersaidmodestly,asweemergedintothemaelstromofWallStreet.\"Ifyoucanmakeitconvenienttocallatmyofficeinthemorning,we\'llgooveritalittle.AndI\'llseeyouinadayortwoinWashington,Watling.
Keepyoureyeonthebull,\"headded,withatwinkle,\"anddon\'tlethimbreakanymorechinathanyoucanhelp.Idon\'tknowwherewe\'dbeifitweren\'tforyoufellows.\"
By\"youfellows,\"hemeantMr.Watling\'sdistinguishedassociatesintheSenate
Mr.WatlingandIdinedtogetherataNewYorkclub.Itwasnotadinnerofherbs.Therewassomethingexceedinglycomfortableaboutthatclub,wheretheartofcateringtothosewhohadearnedtherighttobecateredtocameasnearperfectionashumanthingsattain.Fromthegreat,heavilycurtaineddining-roomthenoisesofthecityhadbeencarefullyexcluded;thedustoftheAvenue,thesqualourandsmellsofthebrownstonefrontsandladderedtenementsofthosegloomydistrictslyingapistol-shoteastandwest.Wehadavintagechampagne,andafterwardsacigaroftheclub\'sspecialimportation.
\"Well,\"saidMr.Watling,\"mowthatyou\'reamemberoftheroyalcouncil,whatdoyouthinkoftheKing?\"
\"I\'vebeenthinkingagreatdealabouthim,\"Isaid,andindeeditwastrue.Hehadmade,perhaps,hisgreatestimpressionwhenIhadshakenhishandinparting.Themannerinwhichhehadlookedatmethenhadpuzzledme;itwasasthoughhewereseekingtodivinesomethinginmethathadescapedhim.\"Whydoesn\'tthegovernmenttakehimover?\"I
exclaimed.
Mr.Watlingsmiled.
\"Youmean,insteadofhisminesandrailroadsandotherproperties?\"
\"Yes.Butthat\'syouridea.Don\'tyourememberyousaidsomethingofthekindthenightoftheelection,yearsago?Itoccurredtometo-day,whenIwaslookingathim.\"
\"Yes,\"heagreedthoughtfully,\"ifsomeAmericangeniuscouldfindawaytolegalizethatpowerandutilizethemenwhocreatedittheworstofourproblemswouldbesolved.Amanwithhisabilityhasarighttopower,andnonewouldrespondmorequicklyormoresplendidlytoacallofthegovernmentthanhe.Allthisfightiswaste,Hugh,damnedwasteofthenation\'senergy.\"Mr.Watlingseldomswore.\"LookatthePresident!There\'samanofremarkableability,too.Andthosetwooughtn\'ttobefightingeachother.ThePresident\'sright,inaway.
Yes,heis,thoughI\'vegottoopposehim.\"
IsmiledatthisfromTheodoreWatling,thoughIadmiredhimthemoreforit.Andsuddenly,oddly,IhappenedtorememberwhatKrebshadsaid,thatourtroubleswerenotduetoindividuals,buttoadiseasethathaddevelopedinindustrialsociety.IfthedayshouldcomewhensuchmenasthePresidentandthegreatbankerwouldbeworkingtogether,wasitnotpossible,too,thattheideaofMr.WatlingandthevisionofKrebsmightcoincide?Iwasstruckbyacertainseemingsimilarityintheirviews;
butMr.Watlinginterruptedthistrainofthoughtbycontinuingtoexpresshisown.
\"Well,——they\'rerunningrightintoagalewhentheymightbesailingwithit,\"hesaid.
\"Youthinkwe\'llhavemoretrouble?\"Iasked.
\"Moreandmore,\"hereplied.\"It\'llbeworsebeforeit\'sbetterI\'mafraid.\"Atthismomentaclubservantannouncedhiscab,andherose.
\"Well,good-bye,myson,\"hesaid.\"I\'llhopetoseeyouinWashingtonsoon.Andrememberthere\'snoonethinksanymoreofyouthanIdo.\"
Iescortedhimtothedoor,anditwaswitharealpangIsawhimwavetomefromhiscabashedroveaway.Myaffectionforhimwasnevermorealivethaninthishourwhen,forthefirsttimeinmyexperience,hehadgivenrealevidenceofaninneranxietyandlackofconfidenceinthefuture.
XXI.
InspiteofthatunwontednoteofpessimismfromMr.Watling,Iwenthomeinadayortwoflushedwithmynewhonours,anditwasimpossiblenottobeconsciousofthefactthatmyauraofprestigewasincreased——
tremendouslyincreased——bytherecognitionIhadreceived.AcertainsubtledeferenceintheattitudeofthesmallminoritywhoowedallegiancetothepersonagebywhomIhadbeensummonedwasmoresatisfyingthanifIhadbeenacclaimedatthestationbythousandsofmyfellow-citizenswhoknewnothingofmyjourneyandofitssignificance,eventhoughitmighthaveaconcernforthem.TomenlikeBerringer,GriersonandTallantandourlessergreatlightsthebankerwasasemi-
mythicalfigure,andmanytimesonthedayofmyreturnIwasstoppedonthestreettosatisfythecuriosityofmyfriendsastomyimpressions.
Hadhe,forinstance,letfallanyopinions,prognosticationsonthepoliticalandfinancialsituation?DickinsonandSchererweretheonlyothermeninthecitywhohadthehonourofapersonalacquaintancewithhim,andSchererwasaway,abroad,gatheringfurnitureandpicturesforthehouseinNewYorkNancyhadpredicted,andwhichhehadalreadybeguntobuild!WithDickinsonIlunchedinprivate,inordertogivehimadetailedaccountoftheconference.Byfiveo\'clockIwasringingthedoor-bellofNancy\'snewmansiononGrantAvenue.Itwasseveralblocksbelowmyown.
\"Well,howdoesitfeeltobesentforbythegreatsultan?\"sheasked,asIstoodbeforeherfire.\"Ofcourse,Ihavealwaysknownthatultimatelyhecouldn\'tgetalongwithoutyou.\"
\"Evenifhehasbeenalittlelateinrealizingit,\"Iretorted.
\"Sitdownandtellmeallabouthim,\"shecommanded.
\"Imethimonce,whenHamhadtheyachtatBarHarbor.\"
\"Andhowdidhestrikeyou?\"
\"Assomewhatwrappedupinhimself,\"saidNancy.
Welaughedtogether.
\"Oh,Ifellavictim,\"shewenton.\"Imighthavesailedoffwithhim,ifhehadaskedme.\"
\"I\'msurprisedhedidn\'taskyou.\"
\"Isuspectthatitwasnotquiteconvenient,\"shesaid.\"Womenaresecondaryconsiderationstosultans,we\'reallverywellwhentheyhaven\'tanythingmoreserioustooccupythem.Ofcoursethat\'swhytheyfascinateus.Whatdidhewantwithyou,Hugh?\"
