"My opinions, Cal, of your business methods are known to everyone."

"Yes I know you started life with a theory, but sooner or later, Jim,
you can't resist the pressure in this town. You started with ideals you
can't realize. You have grown older and wiser and don't dream so much.
One by one illusions fade. One by one the men who set out to serve the
common people always come over to the side of the mighty. Why? Because
we alone recognize their worth and reward them accordingly."

Stuart looked at Bivens thoughtfully and then at the millions heaped on
the dark blood-red table, while he slowly said:

"They say, Cal, that the warriors of the Dakota Indians used to eat the
heart of a fallen foe to increase their courage and the New Zealander
swallowed whole the eyes of his enemy that he might see further. Your
business methods haven't made much progress beyond this stage, so far
as I can see."

Bivens stroked his silken beard with a nervous puzzled movement, rose
and walked to the window.

"Come here, Jim."

He gazed for a moment over the city and slowly said:

"Look over this sea of buildings rising like waves of the ocean and
stretching away until its lines are lost in the clouds. The swarming
thousands who live in them, what is their trade? Their business is by
hook or crook, to get hold of the money simple-minded people have
produced in other sections of the world. They were born to be the kings
and rulers of ignorant masses. This kingship of mind over matter may be
a hard law but it _is_ the law. There's no other meaning to those
great buildings whose argus eyes gleam to-night in the shadows among
the stars. I am simply doing what every man in New York or the world
would do if he had the chance, the brains and the daring."

"Not every man, Cal," was the steady answer. "There are men in New York
who would cut their right arm off rather than do such things."

"Show me one that would cut his right arm off rather than do them and
I'll show you ten thousand who would cut off both arms and spare a leg
to win the half of my success. I'm simply doing better than they can
what they'd give their bodies and souls to do. That's why I'm above the
law and people envy and worship me. If I am a devil, I am their
creation. That's why I wield a power kings never knew. That's why I
need regard no restraint of culture, experience, pride, class or rank.
I am the product of the spirit of the age--the envy and despair of them
all.