that was
not denied him. There was just one rule that had to be complied with. If
he were a public character, and any newspaper men called, he had to be
brought down-stairs into the private interviewing room in order that
they might not know that he was not confined in a cell like any other
prisoner.

Nearly all of these facts had been brought to Cowperwood's attention
beforehand by Steger; but for all that, when he crossed the threshold of
the jail a peculiar sensation of strangeness and defeat came over him.
He and his party were conducted to a little office to the left of
the entrance, where were only a desk and a chair, dimly lighted by
a low-burning gas-jet. Sheriff Jaspers, rotund and ruddy, met them,
greeting them in quite a friendly way. Zanders was dismissed, and went
briskly about his affairs.

"A bad night, isn't it?" observed Jaspers, turning up the gas and
preparing to go through the routine of registering his prisoner. Steger
came over and held a short, private conversation with him in his corner,
over his desk which resulted presently in the sheriff's face lighting
up.

"Oh, certainly, certainly! That's all right, Mr. Steger, to be sure!
Why, certainly!"

Cowperwood, eyeing the fat sheriff from his position, understood what
it was all about. He had regained completely his critical attitude, his
cool, intellectual poise. So this was the jail, and this was the fat
mediocrity of a sheriff who was to take care of him. Very good. He
would make the best of it. He wondered whether he was to be
searched--prisoners usually were--but he soon discovered that he was not
to be.

"That's all right, Mr. Cowperwood," said Jaspers, getting up. "I guess
I can make you comfortable, after a fashion. We're not running a hotel
here, as you know"--he chuckled to himself--"but I guess I can make you
comfortable. John," he called to a sleepy factotum, who appeared from
another room, rubbing his eyes, "is the key to Number Six down here?"

"Yes, sir."

"Let me have it."

John disappeared and returned, while Steger explained to Cowperwood that
anything he wanted in the way of clothing, etc., could be brought in.
Steger himself would stop round next morning and confer with him, as
would any of the members of Cowperwood's family whom he wished to see.
Cowperwood immediately explained to his father his desire for as little
of this as possible. Joseph or Edward might come in the morning and
bring a grip full of underwear,