of competition. The
thing is simply a dead cert. It can't help going."

"A large capital would be required," said Stutz, "a very large capital."

"Yes," said Gorman, "a very large capital, much larger than I should
care to see invested in the thing. I may as well be quite frank with you
gentlemen. At present the patents of my brother's invention are owned
by a small company in which I am the chief shareholder. If we ask the
public for a million dollars and get them--I don't say we can't get
them. We may. But if we do I shall be a very small shareholder. I shall
get 5 per cent, or 6 per cent, or perhaps 10 per cent, on my money. Now
I want more than that. I'm speaking quite frankly, you see. I believe in
frankness."

He looked at Ascher for approval. Stutz bowed, with an impassive face.
On Ascher's lips there was the ghost of a mournful little smile. I
somehow gathered that he had come across frankness like Gorman's before
and had not altogether liked it. Gorman went on. He explained, as he had
explained to me, the plan he had made for forcing the owners of existing
cash registers to buy his company out. At last he got to the central,
the vitally important point.

"All we want, gentlemen, is your backing. You needn't put down any
money. Your names will be enough. I will make over to you such bonus
shares as may be agreed upon. The only risk we run is lawsuits about
our patent rights. You understand how that game is worked. I needn't
explain."

It was evident that both Ascher and Stutz understood that game
thoroughly. It was also plain to me, though not, I think, to Gorman,
that it was a game which neither one nor other of them would be willing
to play.

"But if we have your names," said Gorman, "that game's off. It simply
wouldn't pay. I don't want to flatter you, gentlemen, but there isn't a
firm in the world that would care to start feeing lawyers in competition
with Ascher Stutz & Co."

"That is so," said Stutz.

"And your proposal?" said Ascher.

"If they can't crush us," said Gorman, "and they can't if you're behind
us, they must buy us. I need scarcely say that your share in the profits
will be satisfactory to you. Sir James Digby is one of our directors.
There are only four others, and three of them scarcely count. There
won't be many of us to divide what we get."

I felt that my time had come to speak. If I was to justify Gorman's
confidence in me as an "influence," I must say something. Besides Asch