with gilded
dome, gleamed white and solemn in the morning sun like some proud
temple man had built to the worship of God.

The crowd about its doors, which had not yet been opened, was unusually
large and turbulent. With the aid of two officers he pushed and fought
his way unrecognized through the mob and at last reached the side
entrance of the bank.

Bivens, watching from within, opened the door and he stepped inside.

"Jim, if you try to speak to that gang of madmen you're a fool," the
financier began, with a scowl. "What they need is not eloquence, they
need a club."

"You can't blame them for wanting their money, Cal, after all it's
theirs, not yours, you know."

"You're going to talk to them?"

"I'm going to try."

"It's a foolish and dangerous thing to do."

"Nonsense. They are at least human. They have reason."

A low howl of rage stirred the crowd without. A fight for place in the
line had broken out.

"Is that reason?" Bivens asked, cynically. "It's not even human. It's
the growl of the beast that always sleeps beneath the skin."

"I haven't lost faith in my fellow-men yet," was the dogged answer.

"All right, good luck. I know your intentions are the best. You think
it's your duty to yourself and the people. I'm sorry I can't stay to
hear you. I've an important meeting this morning. I must go at once.
I've instructed my detectives inside to stand by you if you need help."

"Thanks, I won't need them."

The little swarthy figure paused at the door.

"Don't fool yourself into believing anybody in that crowd cares about
the work you have done in their service. Scores of them are under deep
personal obligations to me. But I'm leaving this building by my
neighbour's roof this morning. You don't want to forget, Jim, that the
rabble for whom even Christ lived and died, shouted in his face at last
'Crucify him! Crucify him!'"

Stuart smiled at the incongruous farce of Bivens's familiarity with the
Bible--yet there was no mistaking the fact of his emotions and the
sincerity of his religious faith. The little financier had already
begun to pose to himself as a martyr and a public benefactor. In spite
of howling mobs and crushing markets he was busy now saving the credit
of the Nation! He was one of the group of the king's council engaged in
that important work. The "undesirable" had been eliminated and now a
vast pool was being formed to support the market and kindly hold the
securities until the p