her manner had been merely one of indifference； it would in a way have
been easier to bear； she was simply incapable of grasping the
significance of the event； the meaning to me of the years of unceasing；
ambitious effort it crowned。
〃Yes； it is something of a recognition；〃 I replied。 〃Is there anything I
can get for you in New York？ I don't know how long I shall have to stay…
…I'll telegraph you when I'm getting back。〃 I kissed her and hurried out
to the automobile。 As I drove off I saw her still standing in the
doorway looking after me。。。。 In the station I had a few minutes to
telephone Nancy。
〃If you don't see me for a few days it's because I've gone to New York；〃
I informed her。
〃Something important； I'm sure。〃
〃How did you guess？〃 I demanded； and heard her laugh。
〃Come back soon and tell me about it；〃 she said； and I walked；
exhilarated； to the train。。。。 As I sped through the night； staring out
of the window into the darkness； I reflected on the man I was going to
see。 But at that time； although he represented to me the quintessence of
achievement and power； I did not by any means grasp the many sided
significance of the phenomenon he presented； though I was keenly aware of
his influence； and that men spoke of him with bated breath。 Presidents
came and went； kings and emperors had responsibilities and were subject
daily to annoyances； but this man was a law unto himself。 He did exactly
what he chose； and compelled other men to do it。 Wherever commerce
reigned；and where did it not？he was king and head of its Holy Empire；
Pope and Emperor at once。 For he had his code of ethics； his religion；
and those who rebelled； who failed to conform； he excommunicated； a code
something like the map of Europe；apparently inconsistent in places。
What I did not then comprehend was that he was the American Principle
personified； the supreme individual assertion of the conviction that
government should remain modestly in the background while the efficient
acquired the supremacy that was theirs by natural right； nor had I
grasped at that time the crowning achievement of a unity that fused
Christianity with those acquisitive dispositions said to be inherent in
humanity。 In him the Lion and the Lamb； the Eagle and the Dove dwelt
together in amity and power。
New York； always a congenial place to gentlemen of vitality and means and
influential connections； had never appeared to me more sparkling； more
inspiring。 Winter had relented； spring had not as yet begun。 And as I
sat in a corner of the dining…room of my hotel looking out on the sunlit
avenue I was conscious of partaking of the vigour and confidence of the
well…dressed； clear…eyed people who walked or drove past my window with
the air of a conquering race。 What else was there in the world more
worth having than this conquering sense？ Religion might offer charms to
the weak。 Yet here religion itself became sensible； and wore the garb of
prosperity。 The stonework of the tall church on the corner was all lace；
and the very saints in their niches； who had known martyrdom and poverty；
seemed to have renounced these as foolish； and to look down complacently
on the procession of wealth and power。。 Across the street； behind a
sheet of glass； was a carrosserie where were displayed the shining yellow
and black panels of a closed automobile； the cost of which would have
built a farm…house and stocked a barn。
At eleven o'clock； the appointed hour； I was in Wall Street。 Sending in
my name； I was speedily ushered into a room containing a table； around
which were several men； but my eyes were drawn at once to the figure of
the great banker who sat； massive and preponderant； at one end； smoking a
cigar； and listening in silence to the conversation I had interrupted。
He rose courteously and gave me his hand； and a glance that is
unforgettable。
〃It is good of you to come； Mr。 Paret；〃 he said simply； as though his
summons had not been a command。 〃Perhaps you know some of these
gentlemen。〃
One of them was our United States Senator； Theodore Watling。 He； as it
turned out； had been summoned from Washington。 Of course I saw him
frequently； having from time to time to go to Washington on various
errands connected with legislation。 Though spruce and debonnair as ever；
in the black morning coat he invariably wore； he appeared older than he
had on the day when I had entered his office。 He greeted me warmly； as
always。
〃Hugh； I'm glad to see you here；〃 he said； with a slight emphasis on the
last word。 My legal career was reaching its logical climax； the climax
he had foreseen。 And he added； to the banker； that he had brought me up。
〃Then he was trained in a good school；〃 remarked that personage； affably。
Mr。 Barbour； the president of our Railroad； was present； and nodded to me
kindly； also a president of a smaller road。 In addition； there were two
New York attorneys of great prominence； whom I had met。 The banker's own
special lieutenant of the law； Mr。 Clement T。 Grolier； for whom I looked；
was absent； but it was forthwith explained that he was offering； that
morning； a resolution of some importance in the Convention of his Church；
but that he would be present after lunch。
〃I have asked you to come here； Mr。 Paret；〃 said the banker； 〃not only
because I know something personally of your legal ability； but because I
have been told by Mr。 Scherer and Mr。 Barbour that you happen to have
considerable knowledge of the situation we are discussing； as well as
some experience with cases involving that statute somewhat hazy to lay
minds； the Sherman anti…trust law。〃
A smile went around the table。 Mr。 Watling winked at me； I nodded； but
said nothing。 The banker was not a man to listen to superfluous words。
The keynote of his character was despatch。。。。
The subject of the conference； like many questions bitterly debated and
fought over in their time； has in the year I write these words come to be
of merely academic interest。 Indeed； the very situation we discussed
that day has been cited in some of our modern text…books as a classic
consequence of that archaic school of economics to which the name of
Manchester is attached。 Some half dozen or so of the railroads running
through the anthracite coal region had pooled their interests；an
extremely profitable proceeding。 The public paid。 We deemed it quite
logical that the public should payhaving been created largely for that
purpose； and very naturally we resented the fact that the meddling Person
who had got into the White House without asking anybody's leave；who
apparently did not believe in the infallibility of our legal Bible； the
Constitution；should maintain that the anthracite roads had formed a
combination in restraint of trade； should lay down the preposterous
doctrineso subversive of the Rights of Manthat railroads should not
own coal mines。 Congress had passed a law to meet this contention； suit
had been brought； and in the lower court the government had won。
As the day wore on our numbers increased； we were joined by other lawyers
of renown； not the least of whom was Mr。 Grolier himself； fresh from his
triumph over religious heresy in his Church Convention。 The note of the
conference became tinged with exasperation； and certain gentlemen seized
the opportunity to relieve their pent…up feelings on the subject of the
President and his slavish advisers；some of whom； before they came under
the spell of his sorcery； had once been sound lawyers and sensible men。
With the exception of the great Banker himself； who made few comments；
Theodore Watling was accorded the most deference； as one of the leaders
of that indomitable group of senators who had dared to stand up against
popular clamour； his opinions were of great value； and his tactical
advice was listened to with respect。 I felt more pride than ever in my
former chief； who had lost none of his charm。 While in no way minimizing
the seriousness of the situation； his wisdom was tempered； as always；
with humour； he managed； as it were； to neutralize the acid injected into
the atmosphere by other gentlemen present； he alone seemed to bear no
animus against the Author of our troubles； suave and calm； good natured；
he sometimes brought the company into roars of laughter and even
succeeded in bringing occasional smiles to the face of the man who had
summoned uswhen relating some characteristic story of the queer genius
whom the fates （undoubtedly as a practical joke） had made the chief
magistrate of the United States of America。 All geniuses have
weaknesses； Mr。 Wading had made a study of the President's； and more than
once had lured him into an impasse。 The case had been appealed to the
Supreme Court； and Mr。 Wading； with remarkable conciseness and
penetration； reviewed the characteristics of each and every member of
that tribunal； all of whom he knew intimately。 They were； of course； not
subject to 〃advice；〃 as were some of the gentlemen who sat on our state
courts； no sane and self…respecting American would presume to 〃approach〃
them。 Nevertheless they were human； and it were wise to take account； in
the conduct of the case； of the pro