e worthless, he advised the
Government to stop payment on the balance. It was stopped on the ground
of fraud. And then the youngster showed the stuff he was made of. Did
he crawl and apologize? Not much. He sued the United States Government
for the full amount and pushed that suit to the Supreme Court. In the
face of the sneers of his enemies he won, and took the full amount with
interest. He's the king to-day because he was born a king. His father
was a millionaire before him. He's the greatest financial genius of the
century."

Bivens paused and a dreamy look came into the black eyes.

"Jim," he continued with slow emphasis, "I'd rather get my fingers on
his throat in a death-struggle than lead the combined armies of the
world to victory."

Stuart was silent.

The financier moved uneasily and asked:

"What are you brooding over now?"

"I was just wondering why the devil you've taken the pains to tell me
all these incredible stories about the great ones here to-night?"

"And I answer with perfect frankness. When you come in with me it must
be with your whole soul, without a single reservation. When it comes to
the critical moment of your decision it may turn on a sentimental
whim--a question of high-browed honour. I want you to come with your
eyes wide open. I want you to know that I'm no better, no worse, than
the best of the big ones whose names fill the world with awe. Every
word I've told you about them is true and a great deal more that will
never be told; and mind you there's not a Jew among the fellows I've
sketched. There are two men in New York of old Scotch ancestry who have
more money than the whole Hebrew race in America."

"The stuff you've told me seems beyond belief."

"Exactly. That's why I wanted you to know. The truth is, Jim, you'd
just as well face it at once. I am asking you to resign your place in
the old academic world to enter commerce, the real modern world.
Commerce is built on the power to over-reach. Isn't deceit the
foundation of all successful trade? The butcher, the baker, the
candle-stick maker, the banker, the broker--their business is all
alike. A trader is a trader, one who clutches and fights his competitor
and lays traps for his customers, in short, his victims. A trader is
one who by hook or crook beats down the price at which he will buy
below its market value and marks it up to the limit of his victim's
credulity when he sells. That's the grain of truth beneath the mou