add a few details."

"I don't think he can,--but you do him an injustice in thinking that he
spoke to me of your plans. His failure to do so is noteworthy, but it
affects others rather than yourself. I am exceedingly obliged to you for
your time and frankness. I will not detain you further unless Mr.
Covington would like to make any comments."

"I have nothing to say," Covington replied.

Gorham waited until Brady had made his departure before he turned to the
man sitting in silence before him.

"This is all that is needed to make the blow complete, is it not?" he
asked, in a voice which betrayed the feeling beneath by its quiet
restraint. "Even the awakening which came to me when the committee
showed their real selves was not enough. I still believed that I could
carry through my purpose, and I relied on you to help make this
possible. I, who felt myself strong enough to undertake the
revolutionizing of the business world because of my magnificent support,
find myself, like Samson, shorn of my strength, and face to face with a
realization that man is by nature the cringing slave of the almighty
dollar. He may, for a time, or for a purpose, disguise it even from
himself, but when the real test comes, he dare not disregard the
compelling voice of his master. This is enough of an awakening, but
think of the pain which accompanies it when one finds that the friend in
whom he trusted, that the one man whom he was most proud to honor, fails
even to measure up to the simple test of honesty! Oh, Covington, I find
it hard to bring myself to believe it!"

"What do you propose to do?" Covington asked.

"First of all, I shall place the facts before the Directors. They at
least shall know that I have not been false to them or to myself."

"When will you do this?"

"As soon as possible,--this afternoon if I can get them together."

"Would you mind postponing it until to-morrow?"

"What is to be gained by that?"

"May I have an interview with you at your house to-night? It is for this
that I ask the postponement."

"Certainly," Gorham replied, wonderingly. "I will see you at nine
o'clock."

"I thank you," said Covington, rising and leaving the office without
further comment.

XXIX

Gorham received two callers on that Saturday night. Sanford came first,
and the heartiness of the welcome extended him thawed out the blustering
exterior which made it so difficult for the warm heart underneath to
assert itself.