at
in his library indulging in day-dreams. James Riley had come first, with
his news of Buckner's presence in New York; then Allen called, bringing
his suspicions concerning the attitude of those trusted in the affairs
of the corporation, adding his own unexpected and unwarranted doubts as
to the integrity of Covington and the morality of this company, which to
its creator had seemed to embody every idealistic and altruistic
principle; then Litchfield, at the meeting of the committee,
substantiated to a considerable extent Allen's deep-seated conviction
that the men who made up the fibre of the corporation were actuated by
selfish motives in their relations to it and to its transactions, thus
making the situation even more acute. James Riley later had brought him
the first definite ray of hope in what promised a solution of his
domestic tangle; but as the burden lightened on the one hand, it seemed
to bear him down with added weight on the other. Senator Hunt, urged on
by Brady and other powerful interests, was working against the
Consolidated Companies with an energy which would have done him credit
had it owed its origin to his appreciation of the responsibilities of
his public duties. Now, Kenmore's description of the situation at
Washington left no room for doubt that for the first time Gorham must
admit the assailability of the Companies. After the two hours'
interview, Gorham could not fail to recognize that the one thing which
showed above all else in Kenmore's attitude, was his anxiety lest the
threatened adverse position on the part of the Government toward the
Companies should result in a loss of his own future profits. Could it be
possible, Gorham asked, inwardly, that Allen was right in saying that he
himself was the only man in the corporation who lived up to the ideals
he expressed!

"Next Tuesday is the critical day," the Senator repeated at the table,
all other conversation giving way to the matter which he had so strongly
upon his mind. "The Attorney-General was not far wrong when he told us
in Washington that there was not the slightest possibility of passing
any bill through either House which could accomplish the results which
the President desires, and yet I cannot believe that the position which
the Administration has taken will be overridden."

"If we can get the bill through the Senate, do you think there will be
the same difficulty in the House?" asked Gorham.

"No," Kenmore responded; "the C