dit of having, unknown to myself, been the single force which has
compelled you to live up to the high standard I established.

"Now, as the parent of this child which I have seen develop to this
point under my guidance and protection, I stand here prepared to fight
for its honor against you who threaten its destruction--and I warn you
that the parent love dares much. As the Roman Virginius stood with his
sword pricking the flesh over the heart of his beloved daughter, so do I
stand ready to destroy my offspring rather than suffer its dishonor at
the hands of any Appius Claudius. Gentlemen, the Consolidated Companies
has been a one-man corporation in the past through your sufferance; from
to-day, if it exist at all, it shall be a one-man corporation because of
my will. You know that these are no idle words. You know what would be
the result of a single statement from me that the Companies repudiates
its assumed responsibilities. I do not ask--I demand that you gentlemen,
as the Executive Committee of the corporation, pass such resolutions as
will place the authority absolutely in my hands. I ask Mr. Litchfield to
take the chair, while I retire to give you ample opportunity for
discussion. However hard it may be for your personal pride, you will
have to do this--you have too much at stake to gratify your resentment
of my autocracy. But if you can gain any consolation in the knowledge
that you have dealt your president a blow from which it will take long
for him to recover, I beg of you to make the most of it. I believed
that power was the supreme lever with which to move the world, and that
money was but the fulcrum upon which that lever should rest. You
gentlemen have shattered this belief, and have shown me that sordid gold
is the controlling object of man's life. Still, I prefer to remain in my
Utopia, alone if need be, but with your unwilling company so long as my
present strength shall last."

Gorham closed his eyes involuntarily as he ceased speaking, still
standing before his associates. A single tremor passed over his face,
and then it was as impassive as before. With a bow as courteous as it
was impressive, he left the room.

XXII

When Covington entered Gorham's office an hour later he found his chief
bowed forward on his desk, his head resting upon his hands. As the door
closed the older man raised his eyes, and the change in his face caused
Covington to stop in surprise. The usual color was replace