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l。　　More　than　once　during　the　day　he　had　seen　bankers　and　brokers　who　were　anxious　about　possible　shrinkage　in　connection　with　various　hypothecated　securities；　and　to…night　his　valet　had　called　him　to　the　'phone　half　a　dozen　times　to　talk　with　Addison；　with　Kaffrath；　with　a　broker　by　the　name　of　Prosser　who　had　succeeded　Laughlin　in　active　control　of　his　private　speculations；　and　also；　be　it　said；　with　several　of　the　banks　whose　presidents　were　at　this　particular　conference。　　If　Cowperwood　was　hated；　mistrusted；　or　feared　by　the　overlords　of　these　institutions；　such　was　by　no　means　the　case　with　the　underlings；　some　of　whom；　through　being　merely　civil；　were　hopeful　of　securing　material　benefits　from　him　at　some　future　time。　　With　a　feeling　of　amused　satisfaction　he　was　meditating　upon　how　heavily　and　neatly　he　had　countered　on　his　enemies。　　Whereas　they　were　speculating　as　to　how　to　offset　their　heavy　losses　on　the　morrow；　he　was　congratulating　himself　on　corresponding　gains。　　When　all　his　deals　should　be　closed　up　he　would　clear　within　the　neighborhood　of　a　million　dollars。　　He　did　not　feel　that　he　had　worked　Messrs。　Hull　and　Stackpole　any　great　injustice。　　They　were　at　their　wit's　end。　　If　he　had　not　seized　this　opportunity　to　undercut　them　Schryhart　or　Arneel　would　have　done　so；　anyhow。

Mingled　with　thoughts　of　a　forthcoming　financial　triumph　were　others　of　Berenice　Fleming。　　There　are　such　things　as　figments　of　the　brain；　even　in　the　heads　of　colossi。　　He　thought　of　Berenice　early　and　late；　he　even　dreamed　of　her。　　He　laughed　at　himself　at　times　for　thus　being　taken　in　the　toils　of　a　mere　girlthe　strands　of　her　ruddy　hairbut　working　in　Chicago　these　days　he　was　always　conscious　of　her；　of　what　she　was　doing；　of　where　she　was　going　in　the　East；　of　how　happy　he　would　be　if　they　were　only　together；　happily　mated。

It　had　so　happened；　unfortunately；　that　in　the　course　of　this　summer's　stay　at　Narragansett　Berenice；　among　other　diversions；　had　assumed　a　certain　interest　in　one　Lieutenant　Lawrence　Braxmar；　U。S。N。；　whom　she　found　loitering　there；　and　who　was　then　connected　with　the　naval　station　at　Portsmouth；　New　Hampshire。　　Cowperwood；　coming　East　at　this　time　for　a　few　days'　stay　in　order　to　catch　another　glimpse　of　his　ideal；　had　been　keenly　disturbed　by　the　sight　of　Braxmar　and　by　what　his　presence　might　signify。　　Up　to　this　time　he　had　not　given　much　thought　to　younger　men　in　connection　with　her。　　Engrossed　in　her　personality；　he　could　think　of　nothing　as　being　able　to　stand　long　between　him　and　the　fulfilment　of　his　dreams。　　Berenice　must　be　his。　　That　radiant　spirit；　enwrapt　in　so　fair　an　outward　seeming；　must　come　to　see　and　rejoice　in　him。　Yet　she　was　so　young　and　airy　in　her　mood　that　he　sometimes　wondered。　　How　was　he　to　draw　near？　What　say　exactly？　What　do？　Berenice　was　in　no　way　hypnotized　by　either　his　wealth　or　fame。　She　was　accustomed　（she　little　knew　to　what　extent　by　his　courtesy）　to　a　world　more　resplendent　in　its　social　security　than　his　own。　Surveying　Braxmar　keenly　upon　their　first　meeting；　Cowperwood　had　liked　his　face　and　intelligence；　had　judged　him　to　be　able；　but　had　wondered　instantly　how　he　could　get　rid　of　him。　　Viewing　Berenice　and　the　Lieutenant　as　they　strolled　off　together　along　a　summery　seaside　veranda；　he　had　been　for　once　lonely；　and　had　sighed。　　These　uncertain　phases　of　affection　could　become　very　trying　at　times。　　He　wished　he　were　young　again；　single。

To…night；　therefore；　this　thought　was　haunting　him　like　a　gloomy　undertone；　when　at　half　past　eleven　the　telephone　rang　once　more；　and　he　heard　a　low；　even　voice　which　said：

〃Mr。　Cowperwood？　This　is　Mr。　Arneel。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃A　number　of　the　principal　financial　men　of　the　city　are　gathered　here　at　my　house　this　evening。　　The　question　of　ways　and　means　of　preventing　a　panic　to…morrow　is　up　for　discussion。　　As　you　probably　know；　Hull　&　Stackpole　are　in　trouble。　　Unless　something　is　done　for　them　tonight　they　will　certainly　fail　to…morrow　for　twenty　million　dollars。　　It　isn't　so　much　their　failure　that　we　are　considering　as　it　is　the　effect　on　stocks　in　general；　and　on　the　banks。　　As　I　understand　it；　a　number　of　your　loans　are　involved。　　The　gentlemen　here　have　suggested　that　I　call　you　up　and　ask　you　to　come　here；　if　you　will；　to　help　us　decide　what　ought　to　be　done。　Something　very　drastic　will　have　to　be　decided　on　before　morning。〃

During　this　speech　Cowperwood's　brain　had　been　reciprocating　like　a　well…oiled　machine。

〃My　loans？〃　he　inquired；　suavely。　　〃What　have　they　to　do　with　the　situation？　I　don't　owe　Hull　&　Stackpole　anything。〃

〃Very　true。　　But　a　number　of　the　banks　are　carrying　securities　for　you。　　The　idea　is　that　a　number　of　these　will　have　to　be　called　the　majority　of　themunless　some　other　way　can　be　devised　to…night。　　We　thought　you　might　possibly　wish　to　come　and　talk　it　over；　and　that　you　might　be　able　to　suggest　some　other　way　out。〃

〃I　see；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　caustically。　　〃The　idea　is　to　sacrifice　me　in　order　to　save　Hull　&　Stackpole。　　Is　that　it？〃

His　eyes；　quite　as　though　Arneel　were　before　him；　emitted　malicious　sparks。

〃Well；　not　precisely　that；〃　replied　Arneel；　conservatively；　〃but　something　will　have　to　be　done。　　Don't　you　think　you　had　better　come　over？〃

〃Very　good。　　I'll　come；〃　was　the　cheerful　reply。　　〃It　isn't　anything　that　can　be　discussed　over　the　'phone；　anyhow。〃

He　hung　up　the　receiver　and　called　for　his　runabout。　　On　the　way　over　he　thanked　the　prevision　which　had　caused　him；　in　anticipation　of　some　such　attack　as　this；　to　set　aside　in　the　safety　vaults　of　the　Chicago　Trust　Company　several　millions　in　low…interest…bearing　government　bonds。　　Now；　if　worst　came　to　worst；　these　could　be　drawn　on　and　hypothecated。　　These　men　should　see　at　last　how　powerful　he　was　and　how　secure。

As　he　entered　the　home　of　Arneel　he　was　a　picturesque　and　truly　representative　figure　of　his　day。　　In　a　light　summer　suit　of　cream　and　gray　twill；　with　a　straw　hat　ornamented　by　a　blue…and…white　band；　and　wearing　yellow　quarter…shoes　of　the　softest　leather；　he　appeared　a　very　model　of　trig；　well…groomed　self…sufficiency。　　As　he　was　ushered　into　the　room　he　gazed　about　him　in　a　brave；　leonine　way。

〃A　fine　night　for　a　conference；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　walking　toward　a　chair　indicated　by　Mr。　Arneel。　　〃I　must　say　I　never　saw　so　many　straw　hats　at　a　funeral　before。　　I　understand　that　my　obsequies　are　contemplated。　　What　can　I　do？〃

He　beamed　in　a　genial；　sufficient　way；　which　in　any　one　else　would　have　brought　a　smile　to　the　faces　of　the　company。　　In　him　it　was　an　implication　of　basic　power　which　secretly　enraged　and　envenomed　nearly　all　those　present。　　They　merely　stirred　in　a　nervous　and　wholly　antagonistic　way。　　A　number　of　those　who　knew　him　personally　noddedMerrill；　Lawrence；　Simms；　but　there　was　no　friendly　light　in　their　eyes。

〃Well；　gentlemen？〃　he　inquired；　after　a　moment　or　two　of　ominous　silence；　observing　Hand's　averted　face　and　Schryhart's　eyes；　which　were　lifted　ceilingward。

〃Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　began　Mr。　Arneel；　quietly；　in　no　way　disturbed　by　Cowperwood's　jaunty　air；　〃as　I　told　you　over　the　'phone；　this　meeting　is　called　to　avert；　if　possible；　what　is　likely　to　be　a　very　serious　panic　in　the　morning。　　Hull　&　Stackpole　are　on　the　verge　of　failure。　　The　outstanding　loans　are　considerablein　the　neighborhood　of　seven　or　eight　million　here　in　Chicago。　　On　the　other　hand；　there　are　assets　in　the　shape　of　American　Match　stocks　and　other　properties　sufficient　to　carry　them　for　a　while　longer　if　the　banks　can　only　continue　their　loans。　　As　you　know；　we　are　all　facing　a　falling　market；　and　the　banks　are　short　of　ready　money。　　Something　has　to　be　done。　　We　have　canvassed　the　situation　here　to…night　as　thoroughly　as　possible；　and　the　general　conclusion　is　that　your　loans　are　among　the　most　available　assets　which　can　be　reached　quickly。　　Mr。　Schryhart；　Mr。　Merrill；　Mr。　Hand；　and　myself　have　done　all　we　can　thus　far　to　avert　a　calamity；　but　we　find　that　some　one　with　whom　Hull　&　Stackpole　have　been　hypothecating　stocks　has　been　feeding　them　out　in　order　to　break　the　market。　　We　shall　know　how　to　avoid　that　in　the　future〃　（and　he　looked　hard　at　Cowperwood）；　〃but　the　thing　at　present　is　immediate　cash；　and　your　loans　are　the　largest　and　the　most　available。　　Do　you　think　you　can　find　the　means　to　pay　them　back　in　the　morning？〃

Arneel　blinked　his　keen；　blue　eyes　solemnly；　while　the　rest；　like　a　pack　of　genial　but　hungry　wolves；　sat　and　surveyed　this　apparently　whole　but　now　condemned　scapegoat　and　victim。　　Cowperwood；　who　was　keenly　alive　to　the　spirit　of　the　company；　looked　blandly　and　fearlessly　around。　　On　his　knee　he　held　his　bluebanded　straw　hat　neatly　balanced　on　one　edge。　　His　full　mustache　curled　upward　in　a　jaunty；　arrogant　way。

〃I　can　meet　my　loans；〃　he　replied；　easily。　　〃But　I　would　not　advise　you　or　any　of　the　gentlemen　present　to　call　them。〃　His　voice；　for　all　its　lightness；　had　an　ominous　ring。

〃Why　not？〃　inquired　Hand；　grimly　and　heavily；　turning　squarely　about　and　facing　him。　　〃It　doesn't　appear　that　you　have　extended　any　particular　courtesy　to　Hull　or　Stackpole。〃　His　face　was　red　and　scowling。

〃Because；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　smiling；　and　ignoring　the　reference　to　his　trick；　〃I　know　why　this　meeting　was　called。　　I　know　that　these　gentlemen　here；　who　are　not　saying　a　word；　are　mere　catspaws　and　rubber　stamps　for　you　and　Mr。　Schryhart　and　Mr。　Arneel　and　Mr。　Merrill。　　I　know　how　you　four　gentlemen　have　been　gambling　in　this　stock；　and　what　your　probable　losses　are；　and　that　it　is　to　save　yourselves　from　further　loss　that　you　have　decided　to　make　me　the　scapegoat。　　I　want　to　tell　you　here〃and　he　got　up；　so　that　in　his　full　stature　he　loomed　over　the　room〃you　can't　do　it。　　You　can't　make　me　your　catspaw　to　pull　your　chestnuts　out　of　the　fire；　and　no　rubber…stamp　conference　can　make　any　such　attempt　successful。　If　you　want　to　know　what　to　do；　I'll　tell　youclose　the　Chicago　Stock　Exchange　to…morrow　morning　and　keep　it　closed。　　Then　let　Hull　&　Stackpole　fail；　or　if　not　you　four　put　up　the　money　to　carry　them。　　If　you　can't；　let　your　banks　do　it。　　If　you　open　the　day　by　calling　a　single　one　of　my　loans　before　I　am　ready　to　pay　it；　I'll　gut　every　bank　from　here　to　the　river。　　You'll　have　panic；　all　the