ich are entirely sound and needed. It would help
me to prevent the old companies from eating me up. As a matter of
fact, I must have such a franchise to protect my interests and give me
a running fighting chance. Now, I know that none of us are in politics
or finance for our health. If I could get such a franchise it would be
worth from one-fourth to one-half of all I personally would make out of
it, providing my plan of combining these new companies with the old
ones should go through--say, from three to four hundred thousand
dollars." (Here again Cowperwood was not quite frank, but safe.) "It is
needless to say to you that I can command ample capital. This
franchise would do that. Briefly, I want to know if you won't give me
your political support in this matter and join in with me on the basis
that I propose? I will make it perfectly clear to you beforehand who my
associates are. I will put all the data and details on the table
before you so that you can see for yourself how things are. If you
should find at any time that I have misrepresented anything you are at
full liberty, of course, to withdraw. As I said before," he concluded,
"I am not a beggar. I am not coming here to conceal any facts or to
hide anything which might deceive you as to the worth of all this to
us. I want you to know the facts. I want you to give me your aid on
such terms as you think are fair and equitable. Really the only
trouble with me in this situation is that I am not a silk stocking. If
I were this gas war would have been adjusted long ago. These gentlemen
who are so willing to reorganize through Mr. Schryhart are largely
opposed to me because I am--comparatively--a stranger in Chicago and
not in their set. If I were"--he moved his hand slightly--"I don't
suppose I would be here this evening asking for your favor, although
that does not say that I am not glad to be here, or that I would not be
glad to work with you in any way that I might. Circumstances simply
have not thrown me across your path before."

As he talked his eye fixed McKenty steadily, almost innocently; and the
latter, following him clearly, felt all the while that he was listening
to a strange, able, dark, and very forceful man. There was no beating
about the bush here, no squeamishness of spirit, and yet there was
subtlety--the kind McKenty liked. While he was amused by Cowperwood's
casual reference to the silk stockings who were keeping him out, it
appea