the titan-第84部分

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　banking　center　is　to　a　certain　extent　involved。　　As　I　have　already　told　Mr。　Stackpole　and　Mr。　Hull；　I　personally　have　gone　as　far　as　I　can　in　this　matter。　　I　suppose　it　is　the　same　with　each　of　you。　　The　only　other　resources　we　have　under　the　circumstances　are　the　banks；　and　they；　as　I　understand　it；　are　pretty　much　involved　with　stock　on　hypothecation。　　I　know　at　least　that　this　is　true　of　the　Lake　City　and　the　Douglas　Trust。〃

〃It's　true　of　nearly　all　of　them；〃　said　Hand。　　Both　Schryhart　and　Merrill　nodded　assent。

〃We　are　not　obligated　to　Mr。　Cowperwood　for　anything　so　far　as　I　know；〃　continued　Mr。　Arneel；　after　a　slight　but　somewhat　portentous　pause。　　〃As　Mr。　Schryhart　has　suggested　here　to…day；　he　seems　to　have　a　tendency　to　interfere　and　disturb　on　every　occasion。　　Apparently　he　stands　obligated　to　the　various　banks　in　the　sums　we　have　mentioned。　　Why　shouldn't　his　loans　be　called？　It　would　help　strengthen　the　local　banks；　and　possibly　permit　them　to　aid　in　meeting　this　situation　for　us。　　While　he　might　be　in　a　position　to　retaliate；　I　doubt　it。〃

Mr。　Arneel　had　no　personal　opposition　to　Cowperwoodnone；　at　least；　of　a　deep…seated　character。　　At　the　same　time　Hand；　Merrill；　and　Schryhart　were　his　friends。　　In　him；　they　felt；　centered　the　financial　leadership　of　the　city。　　The　rise　of　Cowperwood；　his　Napoleonic　airs；　threatened　this。　　As　Mr。　Arneel　talked　he　never　raised　his　eyes　from　the　desk　where　he　was　sitting。　　He　merely　drummed　solemnly　on　the　surface　with　his　fingers。　　The　others　contemplated　him　a　little　tensely；　catching　quite　clearly　the　drift　of　his　proposal。

〃An　excellent　ideaexcellent！〃　exclaimed　Schryhart。　　〃I　will　join　in　any　programme　that　looks　to　the　elimination　of　this　man。　　The　present　situation　may　be　just　what　is　needed　to　accomplish　this。　　Anyhow；　it　may　help　to　solve　our　difficulty。　　If　so；　it　will　certainly　be　a　case　of　good　coming　out　of　evil。〃

〃I　see　no　reason　why　these　loans　should　not　be　called；〃　Hand　commented。　　〃I'm　willing　to　meet　the　situation　on　that　basis。〃

〃And　I　have　no　particular　objection；〃　said　Merrill。　　〃I　think；　however；　it　would　be　only　fair　to　give　as　much　notice　as　possible　of　any　decision　we　may　reach；〃　he　added。

〃Why　not　send　for　the　various　bankers　now；〃　suggested　Schryhart；　〃and　find　out　exactly　where　he　stands；　and　how　much　it　will　take　to　carry　Hull　&　Stackpole？　Then　we　can　inform　Mr。　Cowperwood　of　what　we　propose　to　do。〃

To　this　proposition　Mr。　Hand　nodded　an　assent；　at　the　same　time　consulting　a　large；　heavily　engraved　gold　watch　of　the　most　ponderous　and　inartistic　design。　　〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　have　found　the　solution　to　this　situation　at　last。　　I　suggest　that　we　get　Candish　and　Kramer；　of　the　stock…exchange〃　（he　was　referring　to　the　president　and　secretary；　respectively；　of　that　organization）；　〃and　Simmons；　of　the　Douglas　Trust。　　We　should　soon　be　able　to　tell　what　we　can　do。〃

The　library　of　Mr。　Arneel's　home　was　fixed　upon　as　the　most　suitable　rendezvous。　　Telephones　were　forthwith　set　ringing　and　messengers　and　telegrams　despatched　in　order　that　the　subsidiary　financial　luminaries　and　the　watch…dogs　of　the　various　local　treasuries　might　come　and；　as　it　were；　put　their　seal　on　this　secret　decision；　which　it　was　obviously　presumed　no　minor　official　or　luminary　would　have　the　temerity　to　gainsay。




Chapter　XLIX



Mount　Olympus

By　eight　o'clock；　at　which　hour　the　conference　was　set；　the　principal　financial　personages　of　Chicago　were　truly　in　a　great　turmoil。　　Messrs。　Hand；　Schryhart；　Merrill；　and　Arneel　were　personally　interested！　What　would　you？　As　early　as　seven…thirty　there　was　a　pattering　of　horses'　hoofs　and　a　jingle　of　harness；　as　splendid　open　carriages　were　drawn　up　in　front　of　various　exclusive　mansions　and　a　bank　president；　or　a　director　at　least；　issued　forth　at　the　call　of　one　of　the　big　quadrumvirate　to　journey　to　the　home　of　Mr。　Arneel。　　Such　interesting　figures　as　Samuel　Blackman；　once　president　of　the　old　Chicago　Gas　Company；　and　now　a　director　of　the　Prairie　National；　Hudson　Baker；　once　president　of　the　West　Chicago　Gas　Company；　and　now　a　director　of　the　Chicago　Central　National；　Ormonde　Ricketts；　publisher　of　the　Chronicle　and　director　of　the　Third　National；　Norrie　Simms；　president　of　the　Douglas　Trust　Company；　Walter　Rysam　Cotton；　once　an　active　wholesale　coffee…broker；　but　now　a　director　principally　of　various　institutions；　were　all　en　route。　　It　was　a　procession　of　solemn；　superior；　thoughtful　gentlemen；　and　all　desirous　of　giving　the　right　appearance　and　of　making　the　correct　impression。　　For；　be　it　known；　of　all　men　none　are　so　proud　or　vainglorious　over　the　minor　trappings　of　materialism　as　those　who　have　but　newly　achieved　them。　　It　is　so　essential　apparently　to　fulfil　in　manner　and　air；　if　not　in　fact；　the　principle　of　〃presence〃　which　befits　the　role　of　conservator　of　society　and　leader　of　wealth。　　Every　one　of　those　named　and　many　moreto　the　number　of　thirtyrode　thus　loftily　forth　in　the　hot；　dry　evening　air　and　were　soon　at　the　door　of　the　large　and　comfortable　home　of　Mr。　Timothy　Arneel。

That　important　personage　was　not　as　yet　present　to　receive　his　guests；　and　neither　were　Messrs。　Schryhart；　Hand；　nor　Merrill。　It　would　not　be　fitting　for　such　eminent　potentates　to　receive　their　underlings　in　person　on　such　an　occasion。　　At　the　hour　appointed　these　four　were　still　in　their　respective　offices；　perfecting　separately　the　details　of　the　plan　upon　which　they　had　agreed　and　which；　with　a　show　of　informality　and　of　momentary　inspiration；　they　would　later　present。　　For　the　time　being　their　guests　had　to　make　the　best　of　their　absence。　　Drinks　and　liquors　were　served；　but　these　were　of　small　comfort。　　A　rack　provided　for　straw　hats　was　for　some　reason　not　used；　every　one　preferring　to　retain　his　own　head…gear。　　Against　the　background　of　wood　panneling　and　the　chairs　covered　with　summer　linen　the　company　presented　a　galleryesque　variety　and　interest。　　Messrs。　Hull　and　Stackpole；　the　corpses　or　victims　over　which　this　serious　gathering　were　about　to　sit　in　state；　were　not　actually　present　within　the　room；　though　they　were　within　call　in　another　part　of　the　house；　where；　if　necessary；　they　could　be　reached　and　their　advice　or　explanations　heard。　　This　presumably　brilliant　assemblage　of　the　financial　weight　and　intelligence　of　the　city　appeared　as　solemn　as　owls　under　the　pressure　of　a　rumored　impending　financial　crisis。　　Before　Arneel's　appearance　there　was　a　perfect　buzz　of　minor　financial　gossip；　such　as：

〃You　don't　say？〃

〃Is　it　as　serious　as　that　？〃

〃I　knew　things　were　pretty　shaky；　but　I　was　by　no　means　certain　how　shaky。〃

〃Fortunately；　we　are　not　carrying　much　of　that　stock。〃　（This　from　one　of　the　few　really　happy　bankers。）

〃This　is　a　rather　serious　occasion；　isn't　it？〃

〃You　don't　tell　me！〃

〃Dear；　dear！〃

Never　a　word　in　criticism　from　any　source　of　either　Hand　or　Schryhart　or　Arneel　or　Merrill；　though　the　fact　that　they　were　back　of　the　pool　was　well　known。　　Somehow　they　were　looked　upon　as　benefactors　who　were　calling　this　conference　with　a　view　of　saving　others　from　disaster　rather　than　for　the　purpose　of　assisting　themselves。　　Such　phrases　as；　〃Oh；　Mr。　Hand！　Marvelous　man！　Marvelous！〃　or；　〃Mr。　Schryhartvery　ablevery　able　indeed！〃　or；　〃You　may　depend　on　it　these　men　are　not　going　to　allow　anything　serious　to　overtake　the　affairs　of　the　city　at　this　time；〃　were　heard　on　every　hand。　The　fact　that　immense　quantities　of　cash　or　paper　were　involved　in　behalf　of　one　or　other　of　these　four　was　secretly　admitted　by　one　banker　to　another。　　No　rumor　that　Cowperwood　or　his　friends　had　been　profiting　or　were　in　any　way　involved　had　come　to　any　one　presentnot　as　yet。

At　eight…thirty　exactly　Mr。　Arneel　first　ambled　in　quite　informally；　Hand；　Schryhart；　and　Merrill　appearing　separately　very　shortly　after。　　Rubbing　their　hands　and　mopping　their　faces　with　their　handkerchiefs；　they　looked　about　them；　making　an　attempt　to　appear　as　nonchalant　and　cheerful　as　possible　under　such　trying　circumstances。　There　were　many　old　acquaintances　and　friends　to　greet；　inquiries　to　be　made　as　to　the　health　of　wives　and　children。　　Mr。　Arneel；　clad　in　yellowish　linen；　with　a　white　silk　shirt　of　lavender　stripe；　and　carrying　a　palm…leaf　fan；　seemed　quite　refreshed；　his　fine　expanse　of　neck　and　bosom　looked　most　paternal；　and　even　Abrahamesque。　His　round；　glistening　pate　exuded　beads　of　moisture。　　Mr。　Schryhart；　on　the　contrary；　for　all　the　heat；　appeared　quite　hard　and　solid；　as　though　he　might　be　carved　out　of　some　dark　wood。　　Mr。　Hand；　much　of　Mr。　Arneel's　type；　but　more　solid　and　apparently　more　vigorous；　had　donned　for　the　occasion　a　blue　serge　coat　with　trousers　of　an　almost　gaudy；　bright　stripe。　　His　ruddy；　archaic　face　was　at　once　encouraging　and　serious；　as　though　he　were　saying；　〃My　dear　children；　this　is　very　trying；　but　we　will　do　the　best　we　can。〃　Mr。　Merrill　was　as　cool　and　ornate　and　lazy　as　it　was　possible　for　a　great　merchant　to　be。　　To　one　person　and　another　he　extended　a　cool；　soft　hand；　nodding　and　smiling　half　the　time　in　silence。　　To　Mr。　Arneel　as　the　foremost　citizen　and　the　one　of　largest　wealth　fell　the　duty　（by　all　agreed　as　most　appropriate）　of　assuming　the　chairwhich　in　this　case　was　an　especially　large　one　at　the　head　of　the　table。

There　was　a　slight　stir　as　he　finally；　at　the　suggestion　of　Schryhart；　went　forward　and　sat　down。　　The　other　great　men　found　seats。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　began　Mr。　Arneel；　dryly　（he　had　a　low；　husky　voice）；　〃I'll　be　as　brief　as　I　can。　　This　is　a　very　unusual　occasion　which　brings　us　together。　　I　suppose　you　all　know　how　it　is　with　Mr。　Hull　and　Mr。　Stackpole。　　American　Match　is　likely　to　come　down　with　a　crash　in　the　morning　if　something　very　radical　isn't　done　to…night。　　It　is　at　the　suggestion　of　a　number　of　men　and　banks　that　this　meeting　is　called。〃

Mr。　Arneel　had　an　informal；　tete…a…tete　way　of　speaking　as　if　he　were　sitting　on　a　chaise…longue　with　one　other　person。

〃The　failure；〃　he　went　on；　firmly；　〃if　it　comes；　as　I　hope　it　won't；　will　make　a　lot　of　trouble　for　a　number　of　banks　and　private　individuals　which　we　would　like　to　avoid；　I　am　sure。　　The　principal　creditors　of　American　Match　are　our　local　banks　and　some　private　individuals　who　have　loaned　m