reference to rule. He decided to invite Cowperwood to
visit the Schryhart office and talk matters over. Accordingly, he had
his secretary pen a note, which in rather lofty phrases invited
Cowperwood to call "on a matter of importance."

Now just at this time, it so chanced, Cowperwood was feeling rather
secure as to his place in the Chicago financial world, although he was
still smarting from the bitterness of the aspersions recently cast upon
him from various quarters. Under such circumstances it was his
temperament to evince a rugged contempt for humanity, rich and poor
alike. He was well aware that Schryhart, although introduced, had
never previously troubled to notice him.

"Mr. Cowperwood begs me to say," wrote Miss Antoinette Nowak, at his
dictation, "that he finds himself very much pressed for time at
present, but he would be glad to see Mr. Schryhart at his office at any
time."

This irritated the dominating, self-sufficient Schryhart a little, but
nevertheless he was satisfied that a conference could do no harm in
this instance--was advisable, in fact. So one Wednesday afternoon he
journeyed to the office of Cowperwood, and was most hospitably received.

"How do you do, Mr. Schryhart," observed Cowperwood, cordially,
extending his hand. "I'm glad to see you again. I believe we met once
before several years ago."

"I think so myself," replied Mr. Schryhart, who was broad-shouldered,
square-headed, black-eyed, and with a short black mustache gracing a
firm upper lip. He had hard, dark, piercing eyes. "I see by the
papers, if they can be trusted," he said, coming direct to the point,
"that you are interesting yourself in local gas. Is that true?"

"I'm afraid the papers cannot be generally relied on," replied
Cowperwood, quite blandly. "Would you mind telling me what makes you
interested to know whether I am or not?"

"Well, to tell the truth," replied Schryhart, staring at the financier,
"I am interested in this local gas situation myself. It offers a rather
profitable field for investment, and several members of the old
companies have come to me recently to ask me to help them combine."
(This was not true at all.) "I have been wondering what chance you
thought you had of winning along the lines you are now taking."

Cowperwood smiled. "I hardly care to discuss that," he said, "unless I
know much more of your motives and connections than I do at present.
Do I understand that you have really b