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ady　the　bewildered　foreigner；　an　alien　speech　confounding　himthe　Hun；　the　Pole；　the　Swede；　the　German；　the　Russianseeking　his　homely　colonies；　fearing　his　neighbor　of　another　race。

Here　was　the　negro；　the　prostitute；　the　blackleg；　the　gambler；　the　romantic　adventurer　par　excellence。　　A　city　with　but　a　handful　of　the　native…born；　a　city　packed　to　the　doors　with　all　the　riffraff　of　a　thousand　towns。　　Flaring　were　the　lights　of　the　bagnio；　tinkling　the　banjos；　zithers；　mandolins　of　the　so…called　gin…mill；　all　the　dreams　and　the　brutality　of　the　day　seemed　gathered　to　rejoice　（and　rejoice　they　did）　in　this　new…found　wonder　of　a　metropolitan　life　in　the　West。

The　first　prominent　Chicagoan　whom　Cowperwood　sought　out　was　the　president　of　the　Lake　City　National　Bank；　the　largest　financial　organization　in　the　city；　with　deposits　of　over　fourteen　million　dollars。　　It　was　located　in　Dearborn　Street；　at　Munroe；　but　a　block　or　two　from　his　hotel。

〃Find　out　who　that　man　is；〃　ordered　Mr。　Judah　Addison；　the　president　of　the　bank；　on　seeing　him　enter　the　president's　private　waiting…room。

Mr。　Addison's　office　was　so　arranged　with　glass　windows　that　he　could；　by　craning　his　neck；　see　all　who　entered　his　reception…room　before　they　saw　him；　and　he　had　been　struck　by　Cowperwood's　face　and　force。　　Long　familiarity　with　the　banking　world　and　with　great　affairs　generally　had　given　a　rich　finish　to　the　ease　and　force　which　the　latter　naturally　possessed。　　He　looked　strangely　replete　for　a　man　of　thirty…sixsuave；　steady；　incisive；　with　eyes　as　fine　as　those　of　a　Newfoundland　or　a　Collie　and　as　innocent　and　winsome。　　They　were　wonderful　eyes；　soft　and　spring…like　at　times；　glowing　with　a　rich；　human　understanding　which　on　the　instant　could　harden　and　flash　lightning。　　Deceptive　eyes；　unreadable；　but　alluring　alike　to　men　and　to　women　in　all　walks　and　conditions　of　life。

The　secretary　addressed　came　back　with　Cowperwood's　letter　of　introduction；　and　immediately　Cowperwood　followed。

Mr。　Addison　instinctively　arosea　thing　he　did　not　always　do。　　〃I'm　pleased　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　he　said；　politely。　　〃I　saw　you　come　in　just　now。　　You　see　how　I　keep　my　windows　here；　so　as　to　spy　out　the　country。　　Sit　down。　　You　wouldn't　like　an　apple；　would　you？〃　He　opened　a　left…hand　drawer；　producing　several　polished　red　winesaps；　one　of　which　he　held　out。　　〃I　always　eat　one　about　this　time　in　the　morning。〃

〃Thank　you；　no；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　pleasantly；　estimating　as　he　did　so　his　host's　temperament　and　mental　caliber。　　〃I　never　eat　between　meals；　but　I　appreciate　your　kindness。　　I　am　just　passing　through　Chicago；　and　I　thought　I　would　present　this　letter　now　rather　than　later。　　I　thought　you　might　tell　me　a　little　about　the　city　from　an　investment　point　of　view。〃

As　Cowperwood　talked；　Addison；　a　short；　heavy；　rubicund　man　with　grayish…brown　sideburns　extending　to　his　ear…lobes　and　hard；　bright；　twinkling　gray　eyesa　proud；　happy；　self…sufficient　manmunched　his　apple　and　contemplated　Cowperwood。　　As　is　so　often　the　case　in　life；　he　frequently　liked　or　disliked　people　on　sight；　and　he　prided　himself　on　his　judgment　of　men。　　Almost　foolishly；　for　one　so　conservative；　he　was　taken　with　Cowperwooda　man　immensely　his　superiornot　because　of　the　Drexel　letter；　which　spoke　of　the　latter's　〃undoubted　financial　genius〃　and　the　advantage　it　would　be　to　Chicago　to　have　him　settle　there；　but　because　of　the　swimming　wonder　of　his　eyes。　　Cowperwood's　personality；　while　maintaining　an　unbroken　outward　reserve；　breathed　a　tremendous　humanness　which　touched　his　fellow…banker。　　Both　men　were　in　their　way　walking　enigmas；　the　Philadelphian　far　the　subtler　of　the　two。　　Addison　was　ostensibly　a　church…member；　a　model　citizen；　he　represented　a　point　of　view　to　which　Cowperwood　would　never　have　stooped。　　Both　men　were　ruthless　after　their　fashion；　avid　of　a　physical　life；　but　Addison　was　the　weaker　in　that　he　was　still　afraidvery　much　afraidof　what　life　might　do　to　him。　　The　man　before　him　had　no　sense　of　fear。　　Addison　contributed　judiciously　to　charity；　subscribed　outwardly　to　a　dull　social　routine；　pretended　to　love　his　wife；　of　whom　he　was　weary；　and　took　his　human　pleasure　secretly。　The　man　before　him　subscribed　to　nothing；　refused　to　talk　save　to　intimates；　whom　he　controlled　spiritually；　and　did　as　he　pleased。

〃Why；　I'll　tell　you；　Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　Addison　replied。　　〃We　people　out　here　in　Chicago　think　so　well　of　ourselves　that　sometimes　we're　afraid　to　say　all　we　think　for　fear　of　appearing　a　little　extravagant。　We're　like　the　youngest　son　in　the　family　that　knows　he　can　lick　all　the　others；　but　doesn't　want　to　do　itnot　just　yet。　　We're　not　as　handsome　as　we　might　bedid　you　ever　see　a　growing　boy　that　was？but　we're　absolutely　sure　that　we're　going　to　be。　　Our　pants　and　shoes　and　coat　and　hat　get　too　small　for　us　every　six　months；　and　so　we　don't　look　very　fashionable；　but　there　are　big；　strong；　hard　muscles　and　bones　underneath；　Mr。　Cowperwood；　as　you'll　discover　when　you　get　to　looking　around。　　Then　you　won't　mind　the　clothes　so　much。〃

Mr。　Addison's　round；　frank　eyes　narrowed　and　hardened　for　a　moment。　A　kind　of　metallic　hardness　came　into　his　voice。　　Cowperwood　could　see　that　he　was　honestly　enamoured　of　his　adopted　city。　　Chicago　was　his　most　beloved　mistress。　　A　moment　later　the　flesh　about　his　eyes　crinkled；　his　mouth　softened；　and　he　smiled。　　〃I'll　be　glad　to　tell　you　anything　I　can；〃　he　went　on。　　〃There　are　a　lot　of　interesting　things　to　tell。〃

Cowperwood　beamed　back　on　him　encouragingly。　　He　inquired　after　the　condition　of　one　industry　and　another；　one　trade　or　profession　and　another。　　This　was　somewhat　different　from　the　atmosphere　which　prevailed　in　Philadelphiamore　breezy　and　generous。　　The　tendency　to　expatiate　and　make　much　of　local　advantages　was　Western。　　He　liked　it；　however；　as　one　aspect　of　life；　whether　he　chose　to　share　in　it　or　not。　　It　was　favorable　to　his　own　future。　　He　had　a　prison　record　to　live　down；　a　wife　and　two　children　to　get　rid　ofin　the　legal　sense；　at　least　（he　had　no　desire　to　rid　himself　of　financial　obligation　toward　them）。　　It　would　take　some　such　loose；　enthusiastic　Western　attitude　to　forgive　in　him　the　strength　and　freedom　with　which　he　ignored　and　refused　to　accept　for　himself　current　convention。　〃I　satisfy　myself〃　was　his　private　law；　but　so　to　do　he　must　assuage　and　control　the　prejudices　of　other　men。　　He　felt　that　this　banker；　while　not　putty　in　his　hands；　was　inclined　to　a　strong　and　useful　friendship。

〃My　impressions　of　the　city　are　entirely　favorable；　Mr。　Addison；〃　he　said；　after　a　time；　though　he　inwardly　admitted　to　himself　that　this　was　not　entirely　true；　he　was　not　sure　whether　he　could　bring　himself　ultimately　to　live　in　so　excavated　and　scaffolded　a　world　as　this　or　not。　　〃I　only　saw　a　portion　of　it　coming　in　on　the　train。　I　like　the　snap　of　things。　　I　believe　Chicago　has　a　future。〃

〃You　came　over　the　Fort　Wayne；　I　presume；〃　replied　Addison；　loftily。　〃You　saw　the　worst　section。　　You　must　let　me　show　you　some　of　the　best　parts。　　By　the　way；　where　are　you　staying？〃

〃At　the　Grand　Pacific。〃

〃How　long　will　you　be　here？〃

〃Not　more　than　a　day　or　two。〃

〃Let　me　see；〃　and　Mr。　Addison　drew　out　his　watch。　　〃I　suppose　you　wouldn't　mind　meeting　a　few　of　our　leading　menand　we　have　a　little　luncheon…room　over　at　the　Union　League　Club　where　we　drop　in　now　and　then。　　If　you'd　care　to　do　so；　I'd　like　to　have　you　come　along　with　me　at　one。　　We're　sure　to　find　a　few　of　themsome　of　our　lawyers；　business　men；　and　judges。〃

〃That　will　be　fine；〃　said　the　Philadelphian；　simply。　　〃You're　more　than　generous。　　There　are　one　or　two　other　people　I　want　to　meet　in　between；　and〃he　arose　and　looked　at　his　own　watch〃I'll　find　the　Union　Club。　　Where　is　the　office　of　Arneel　&　Co。？〃

At　the　mention　of　the　great　beef…packer；　who　was　one　of　the　bank's　heaviest　depositors；　Addison　stirred　slightly　with　approval。　　This　young　man；　at　least　eight　years　his　junior；　looked　to　him　like　a　future　grand　seigneur　of　finance。

At　the　Union　Club；　at　this　noontime　luncheon；　after　talking　with　the　portly；　conservative；　aggressive　Arneel　and　the　shrewd　director　of　the　stock…exchange；　Cowperwood　met　a　varied　company　of　men　ranging　in　age　from　thirty…five　to　sixty…five　gathered　about　the　board　in　a　private　dining…room　of　heavily　carved　black　walnut；　with　pictures　of　elder　citizens　of　Chicago　on　the　walls　and　an　attempt　at　artistry　in　stained　glass　in　the　windows。　　There　were　short　and　long　men；　lean　and　stout；　dark　and　blond　men；　with　eyes　and　jaws　which　varied　from　those　of　the　tiger；　lynx；　and　bear　to　those　of　the　fox；　the　tolerant　mastiff；　and　the　surly　bulldog。　　There　were　no　weaklings　in　this　selected　company。

Mr。　Arneel　and　Mr。　Addison　Cowperwood　approved　of　highly　as　shrewd；　concentrated　men。　　Another　who　interested　him　was　Anson　Merrill；　a　small；　polite；　recherche　soul；　suggesting　mansions　and　footmen　and　remote　luxury　generally；　who　was　pointed　out　by　Addison　as　the　famous　dry…goods　prince　of　that　name；　quite　the　leading　merchant；　in　the　retail　and　wholesale　sense；　in　Chicago。

Still　another　was　a　Mr。　Rambaud；　pioneer　railroad　man；　to　whom　Addison；　smiling　jocosely；　observed：　〃Mr。　Cowperwood　is　on　from　Philadelphia；　Mr。　Rambaud；　trying　to　find　out　whether　he　wants　to　lose　any　money　out　here。　　Can't　you　sell　him　some　of　that　bad　land　you　have　up　in　the　Northwest？〃

Rambauda　spare；　pale；　black…bearded　man　of　much　force　and　exactness；　dressed；　as　Cowperwood　observed；　in　much　better　taste　than　some　of　the　otherslooked　at　Cowperwood　shrewdly　but　in　a　gentlemanly；　retiring　way；　with　a　gracious；　enigmatic　smile。　　He　caught　a　glance　in　return　which　he　could　not　possibly　forget。　　The　eyes　of　Cowperwood　said　more　than　any　words　ever　could。　　Instead　of　jesting　faintly　Mr。　Rambaud　decided　to　explain　some　things　about　the　Northwest。　　Perhaps　this　Philadelphian　might　be　interested。

To　a　man　who　has　gone　through　a　great　life　struggle　in　one　metropolis　and　tested　all　the　phases　of　human　duplicity；　decency；　sympathy；　and　chicanery　in　the　controlling　group　of　men　that　one　invariably　finds　in　every　American　city　at　least；　the　temperament　and　significance　of　another　group　in　another　city　is　not　so　much；　and　yet　it　is。　　Long　since　Cowperwood　had