Giddings I want to see him--you!" he said, his teeth clenched
and his eyes blazing--he looked insane.

Giddings came. His conscience was clear--he had never liked Dumont,
owed him nothing, yet had stood by him until further fidelity would
have ruined himself, would not have saved Dumont, or prevented the
Herron-Cassell raiders from getting control. Now that he could afford
to look at his revenge-books he was deeply resenting the insults and
indignities heaped upon him in the past five years. But he was unable
to gloat, was moved to pity, at sight of the physical and mental wreck
in that chair which he had always seen occupied by the most robust of
despots.

"Well," said Dumont in a dull, far-away voice, without looking at him.
"What's happened?"

Giddings cast about for a smooth beginning but could find none. "They
did us up--that's all," he said funereally.

Dumont lifted himself into a momentary semblance of his old look and
manner. "You lie, damn you!" he shouted, his mouth raw and ragged as a
hungry tiger's.

Giddings began to cringe, remembered the changed conditions, bounded to
his feet.

"I'll tolerate such language from no man!" he exclaimed. "I wish you
good morning, sir!" And he was on his way to the door.

"Come back!" commanded Dumont. And Giddings, the habit of implicit
obedience to that voice still strong upon him, hesitated and half
turned.

Dumont was more impressed with the truth of the cataclysm by Giddings'
revolt than by the newspaper head-lines or by Giddings' words. And
from somewhere in the depths of his reserve-self he summoned the last
of his coolness and self-control. "Beg pardon, Giddings," said he.
"You see I'm not well."

Giddings returned--he had taken orders all his life, he had submitted
to this master slavishly; the concession of an apology mollified him
and flattered him in spite of himself.

"Oh, don't mention it," he said, seating himself again. "As I was
saying, the raid was a success. I did the best I could. Some called
our loans and some demanded more collateral. And while I was fighting
front and rear and both sides, bang came that lie about your condition.
The market broke. All I could do was sell, sell, sell, to try to meet
or protect our loans."

Giddings heard a sound that made him glance at Dumont. His head had
fallen forward and he was snoring. Giddings looked long and pityingly.

"A sure enough dead one," he muttered, unconsciously using the s