g moment of caprice, of any lunatic move that should level the
worst against him.

Mr. Harley had one hope, and that rested with Northern Consolidated. If
he could stand off disaster until the raid on Northern Consolidated had
been made, and the profits, namely the road, were in their hands, he
might then arrange a permanent truce. In this he reckoned on Storri's
rapacity, to which a million of dollars was as a mouthful. Given a
foretaste of what riches should dwell therein, Storri would desire with
triple intensity to push forward in his earth-girdling dream of Credit
Magellan. The conquest of Northern Consolidated would teach him to look
upon the rest as sure. Being in this frame, Mr. Harley argued that
Storri, feeling his inability to go forward without him, might be
softened to the touch of reason. Under these pleasant new conditions,
with Credit Magellan hopefully launched, Storri could be treated with.
Mr. Harley would then feel his way to some safe compromise; he would
invent an offer for those French shares which should present both peril
and profit. He would threaten to go no further with Credit Magellan
unless Storri put those French shares in his hands; and he would give
him twenty-fold their value if he did. Mr. Harley harbored the thought
that Storri would yield; and yield all the more readily since his
passion for Dorothy and his appetite for revenge against Mr. Harley
would have had time to cool. Thus reasoning, and thus hoping, and, one
had almost said, thus fearing, Mr. Harley gave himself to the task in
two parts of keeping Storri in paths of peace, and praying for a break
in the market so that the attack on Northern Consolidated might begin.

You are not to suppose those changes in Mr. Harley and Dorothy went
uncounted by Mrs. Hanway-Harley; that would be claiming too much against
the lady's vigilance. In her double role of wife and mother, it was her
duty to observe the haggard face of Mr. Harley and the woe that settled
about Dorothy's young eyes; and Mrs. Hanway-Harley, as wife and mother,
observed them. And this is how that perspicacious matron read those
signs. She translated Mr. Harley's haggard looks at a glance; he was
losing money. Legislation, or stocks, or both, were going the wrong way;
but in legislation, or stocks, or both, or the way they went, Mrs.
Hanway-Harley refused to have an interest. If Mr. Harley had lost money,
Mr. Harley must make some more; that was all.

In divining Dorot