\"Why,Ibelieveyou\'reincurablyromantic,Hugh,\"shesaidlaughingly,whenthemenhadlefttheroom.\"Hereyouare,whattheycallaparagonofsuccess,afuturesenator,AmbassadortoEngland.Ihearofthoseremarkablethingsyouhavedone——eveninNewYorktheotherdayamanwasaskingmeifIknewMr.Paret,andspokeofyouasoneofthecomingmen.
Isupposeyouwillbemovingthere,soon.Apracticalsuccess!ItalwayssurprisesmewhenIthinkofit,Ifinditdifficulttorememberwhatadreameryouwereandhereyouturnouttobestilladreamer!
Haveyoudiscovered,too,theemptinessofitall?\"sheinquiredprovokingly.\"Imustsayyoudon\'tlookit\"——shegavemeacritical,quizzicalglance——\"youlookquiteprosperousandcontented,asthoughyouenjoyedyourpower.\"
Ilaugheduneasily.
\"Andthen,\"shecontinued,\"andthenonedaywhenyourluncheonhasdisagreedwithyou——youwalkintoagalleryandseeaportraitof——ofanoldfriendforwhominyouth,whenyouwereadreamer,youprofessedasentimentalattachment,andyouexclaimthattheartistisadiscerningmanwhohasdiscoveredthesecretthatshehasguardedsoclosely.She\'ssorrythatsheevertriedtoconsoleherselfwithbaublesit\'swhatyou\'vesuspectedallalong.Butyou\'lljustrunaroundtoseeforyourself——tobesureofit.\"Andshehandedmemytea.\"Comenow,confess.Whereareyourwits——Ihearyoudon\'tlackthemincourt.\"
\"Well,\"Isaid,\"ifthatamusesyou——\"
\"Itdoesamuseme,\"saidNancy,twiningherfingersacrossherkneeandregardingmesmilingly,withpartedlips,\"itamusesmealot——it\'ssocharacteristic.\"
\"Butit\'snottrue,it\'sunjust,\"Iprotestedvigorously,smiling,too,becausetheattackwassocharacteristicofher.
\"Whatthen?\"shedemanded.
\"Well,inthefirstplace,myluncheondidn\'tdisagreewithme.Itneverdoes.\"
Shelaughed.\"Butthesentiment——comenow——thesentiment?Doyouperceiveanyhintofemptiness——despair?\"
Ourchairswereveryclose,andsheleanedforwardalittle.
\"Emptinessornoemptiness,\"Isaidalittletremulously,\"IknowthatI
haven\'tbeensocontented,sohappyforalongtime.\"
Shesatverystill,butturnedhergazeonthefire.
\"Youreallywouldn\'twanttofindthat,Hugh,\"shesaidinanothervoice,atwhichIexclaimed.\"No,I\'mnotbeingsentimental.But,tobeserious,Ireallyshouldn\'tcaretothinkthatofyou.I\'dliketothinkofyouasafriend——agoodfriend——althoughwedon\'tseeverymuchofoneanother.\"
\"Butthat\'swhyIcame,Nancy,\"Iexplained.\"Itwasn\'tjustanimpulse——
thatis,I\'vebeenthinkingofyouagreatdeal,allalong.Imissyou,Imissthewayyoulookatthings——yourpointofview.Ican\'tseeanyreasonwhyweshouldn\'tseesomethingofeachother——now——\"
Shecontinuedtostareintothefire.
\"No,\"shesaidatlength,\"Isupposethereisn\'tanyreason.\"Hermoodseemedsuddenlytochangeasshebentoverandextinguishedtheflameunderthekettle.\"Afterall,\"sheaddedgaily,\"weliveinatolerantage,we\'vereachedtheyearsofdiscretion,andwe\'rebothtooconventionaltodoanythingsilly——evenifwewantedto——whichwedon\'t.
We\'reneitherofuslikelytoquarrelwiththeworldasitis,Ithink,andwemightaswellmakefunofittogether.We\'llbeginwithourfriends.WhatdoyouthinkofMr.Scherer\'spalace?\"
\"Ihearyou\'rebuildingitforhim.\"
\"ItoldhimtogetEyre,\"saidNancy,laughingly,\"Iwasafraidhe\'drepeattheGallatinParkmonstrosityonalargerscale,andEyre\'stheonlymaninthiscountrywhounderstandstheFrench.It\'sbeenratheramusing,\"shewenton,\"I\'vehadtofightHilda,andshe\'snomeanantagonist.Howshehatesme!Shewantedamonstrosity,ofcourse,amodernizedGermanrock-grottosortofanaffair,Icanimagine.She\'sbeensofunnywhenI\'vemetheratdinner.\'Iunderstandyoutakeagreatinterestinthehouse,Mrs.Durrett.\'Can\'tyouhearher?\"
\"Well,youdidgetaheadofher,\"Isaid.
\"Ihadto.Icouldn\'tletourfirstcitizenbuildamodernRhinecastle,couldI?Ihavesomepublicspiritleft.Andbesides,IexpecttobuildonGrantAvenuemyself.\"
\"Andleavehere?\"
\"Oh,it\'stoogrubby,it\'sintheslums,\"saidNancy.\"ButIreallyoweyouadebtofgratitude,Hugh,fortheScherers.\"
\"I\'mtoldAdolf\'slosthisheadoveryou.\"
\"It\'snotonlyoverme,butovereverything.He\'ssoridiculouslyproudofbeingontheboardoftheChildren\'sHospitalYououghttohearhimtalkingtooldMrs.Ogilvy,whoofcoursecan\'tgetusedtohimatall,——shealwayshastheairofinquiringwhathe\'sdoinginthatgalley.
ShestillthinksofhimasMr.Durrett\'sforeman.\"
Thetimeflew.Herpresencewaslikeabracing,tinglingatmosphereinwhichIfeltrevivedandexhilarated,self-restored.ForNancydidnotquestion——shetookmeasIwas.Welookedoutontheworld,asitwere,fromthesamewindow,andIcouldnothelpthinkingthatours,afterall,wasalargeview.Thetopicsdidn\'tmatter——ourconversationwasfragrantwithintimacy;andweweresoclosetoeachotheritseemedincrediblethatweevershouldbepartedagain.Atlastthelittleclockonthemantelchimedanhour,shestartedandlookedup.
\"Why,it\'sseven,Hugh!\"sheexclaimed,rising.\"I\'dnoideaitwassolate,andI\'mdiningwiththeDickinsons.I\'veonlyjusttimetodress.\"
\"It\'sbeenlikeareunion,hasn\'tit?——areunionaftermanyyears,\"I
said.Iheldherhandunconsciously——sheseemedtobedrawingmetoher,Ithoughtsheswayed,andasuddendizzinessseizedme.Thenshedrewawayabruptly,withalittlecry.Icouldn\'tbesureaboutthecry,whetherIhearditornot,anotewasstruckintheverydepthsofme.
\"Comeinagain,\"shesaid,\"wheneveryou\'renottoobusy.\"AndaminutelaterIfoundmyselfonthestreet.
ThiswasthebeginningofanewintimacywithNancy,resemblingtheoldintimacyyetdifferingfromit.TheemotionalnoteofourpartingontheoccasionIhavejustrelatedwasnotagainstruck,andwhenIwenteagerlytoseeheragainafewdayslaterIwasconsciousoflimitations,——nottooconscious:thefreedomsheofferedandwhichI
gladlyacceptedwasalargefreedom,noramIquitesurethatevenI
wouldhavewisheditlarger,thoughtherewerenaturallymomentswhenI
thoughtso:whenIaskedmyselfwhatIdidwish,Ifoundnoanswer.
ThoughIsometimeschafed,itwouldhavebeenabsurdofmetoobjecttoacertaintimidityorcautionIbegantoperceiveinherthathadbeenabsentintheoldNancy;buttheoldNancyhadceasedtoexist,andhereinsteadwasahighlydeveloped,highlyspecializedcreatureinwhomI
delighted;andaftertakingthoughtIwouldnothaverobbedheroffineacquiredattribute.Asshehadtrulyobserved,wewerebothconventional;conventionalitywaspartofthepricewehadwillinglypaidformembershipinthatrarerworldwehadbothachieved.Itwasaworld,tobesure,inwhichwewererapidlylearningtotakethelawintoourownhandswithoutseemingtodefyit,inorderthatthefearofitmightremaininthoselessfortunatelyplacedandendowed:wehadbegunwiththeappropriationofthematerialpropertyofourfellow-citizens,whichwetooklegally;fromthispointitwas,ofcourse,merelyalogicalsteptotake——legally,tooothergentlemen\'shumanproperty——theirwives,inshort:themoreprogressiveEasthadsetusourexample,butasyetwehadbeencharytofollowit.
Aboutthistimerebelliousvoiceswerebeginningtomakethemselvesheardintheliterarywildernessproclaimingliberty——libertyofthesexes.
TherewereRussiannovelsandFrenchnovels,andpioneerEnglishnovelspreachinglibertywithNietzscheanstridency,ortakingitforgranted.
IpickedtheseuponNancy\'stable.
\"Readingthem?\"shesaid,inanswertomyquery.\"OfcourseI\'mreadingthem.Iwanttoknowwhatthesecleverpeoplearethinking,evenifI
don\'talwaysagreewiththem,andyououghttoreadthemtoo.It\'squitetruewhatforeignerssayaboutourmen,——thattheyliveinagroove,thattheyhaven\'tanyrangeofconversation.\"
\"I\'mquitewillingtobeeducated,\"Ireplied.\"Ihaven\'tadoubtthatI
needit.\"
Shewasleaningbackinherchair,herhandsbehindherhead,aposturesheoftenassumed.Shelookedupatmeamusedly.
\"I\'llacknowledgethatyou\'remoreteachablethanmostofthem,\"shesaid.\"Doyouknow,Hugh,sometimesyoupuzzlemegreatly.Whenyouarehereandwe\'retalkingtogetherIcanneverthinkofyouasyouareoutintheworld,fightingforpower——andgettingit.Isupposeit\'spartofyourcharm,thatthereisthatsideofyou,butIneverconsciouslyrealizeit.You\'rewhattheycalladualpersonality.\"
\"That\'saprettyhardname!\"Iexclaimed.
Shelaughed.
\"Ican\'thelpit——youare.Oh,notdisagreeablyso,quitenormally——
that\'stheoddthingaboutyou.SometimesIbelievethatyouweremadeforsomethingdifferent,thatinspiteofyoursuccessyouhavemissedyour\'metier.\'\"
\"WhatoughtItohavebeen?\"
\"HowcanItell?AGoethe,perhaps——aGoethesmotheredbyatwentieth-
centuryenvironment.Yourloveofadventureisn\'tdead,it\'sbeenmerelymisdirected,realadventure,Imean,forthfaring,strayingintounknownpaths.Perhapsyouhaven\'tyetfoundyourself.\"
\"Howuncanny!\"Isaid,stirredandstartled.
\"Youhaveatasteforliterature,youknow,thoughyou\'veburiedit.
GivemeTurgeniev.We\'llbeginwithhim\"
Herreadingandthetalksthatfolloweditwereexciting,amazinglystimulatingOnceNancygavemeanamusingaccountofadebatewhichhadtakenplaceinthenewlyorganizedwoman\'sdiscussionclubtowhichshebelongedoveraratherdaringbookbyanEnglishnovelist.Mrs.
Dickinsonhadrevolted.
\"No,shewasn\'treallyshocked,notinthewayshethoughtshewas,\"saidNancy,inanswertoaqueryofmine.
\"Howwassheshocked,then?\"
\"AsyouandIareshocked.\"
\"ButI\'mnotshocked,\"Iprotested.
\"Oh,yes,youare,andsoamI——notonthemoralside,norisitthemoralaspectthattroublesLulaDickinson.Shethinksit\'sthemoralaspect,butit\'sreallytherevolutionaryaspect,themenacetothosepreciousinstitutionsfromwhichwederiveourprivilegesandcomforts.\"
Iconsideredthis,andlaughed.
\"What\'stheuseofbeingahumbugaboutit,\"saidNancy.
\"Butyou\'retalkinglikearevolutionary,\"Isaid.
\"Imaybetalkinglikeone,butI\'mnotone.Ioncehadthemakingsofone——ofagoodone,——a\'proper\'one,astheEnglishwouldsay.\"Shesighed.
\"Youregretit?\"Iaskedcuriously.
\"OfcourseIregretit!\"shecried.\"Whatwomanworthhersaltdoesn\'tregretit,doesn\'twanttolive,evenifshehastosufferforit?Andthosepeople——therevolutionaries,Imean,therebels——theylive,they\'retheonlyoneswhodolive.Therestofusdegenerateinapainlessparalysiswethinkofaspleasure.Lookatme!I\'mincapableofcommittingasingleoriginalact,eventhoughImightconceiveone.
Well,therewasatimewhenIshouldhavebeenequaltoanythingandwouldn\'thavecareda——adamn.\"
Ibelievedher
IfellintothehabitofdroppinginonNancyatleasttwiceaweekonmywayfromtheoffice,andImetheroccasionallyatotherhouses.IdidnottellMaudeofthatfirstimpulsivevisit;butoneeveningafewweekslatersheaskedmewhereIhadbeen,andwhenItoldhershemadenocomment.Icamepresentlytotheconclusionthatthisrenewedintimacydidnottroubleher——whichwaswhatIwishedtobelieve.OfcourseIhadgonetoNancyforastimulationIfailedtogetathome,anditisthemoreextraordinary,therefore,thatIdidnotbecomemorediscontentedandrestless:IsupposethiswasbecauseIhadgrowntoregardmarriageasmostoftheworldregardedit,assomethinginevitableandhumdrum,asakindofhabititisuselesstotrytoshakeoff.ButlifeissofullofcomplexitiesandanomaliesthatIstillhadarealaffectionforMaude,andIlikedherthemorebecauseshedidn\'texpecttoomuchofme,andbecauseshedidn\'tcomplainofmyfriendshipwithNancyalthoughI
shouldvehementlyhavedeniedtherewasanythingtocomplainof.I
respectedMaude.Ifshewasnotasquaw,sheperformedreligiouslythetraditionalsquawduties,andmademecomfortable:andthefactthatwelivedseparatementalexistencesdidnottroublemebecauseIneverthoughtofhers——oreventhatshehadone.Shehadthechildren,andtheyseemedtosuffice.Sheneverrenewedherappealformyconfidence,andIforgotthatshehadmadeit.
NeverthelessIalwaysfeltatugatmyheartstringswhenJunecamearoundanditwastimeforherandthechildrentogotoMattapoisettforthesummer;whenIaccompaniedthem,ontheeveningoftheirdeparture,tothesmoky,noisystationandsawdepositedinthesleeping-cartheirluggageandshawlsandbundles.TheyalwaystooktheeveningtraintoBoston;itwasthebest.TomandSusanwereinvariablytherewithcandyandtoystoseethemoff——ifSusanandherchildrenhadnotalreadygone——
andatsuchmomentsmyheartwarmedtoTom.AndIwasastonishedasI
clungtoMatthewandMoretonandlittleBiddyattheaffectionthatwelledupwithinme,saddenedwhenIkissedMaudegood-bye.Shetoowassad,andalwaysseemedtofeelcompunctionsfordesertingme.
\"Ifeelsoselfishinleavingyouallalone!\"shewouldsay.\"Ifitweren\'tforthechildren——theyneedtheseaair.ButIknowyoudon\'tmissmeasImissyou.Amandoesn\'t,IsupposePleasedon\'tworksohard,andpromisemeyou\'llcomeonandstayalongtime.Youcanifyouwantto.Weshan\'tstarve.\"Shesmiled.\"Thatniceroom,whichisyours,atthesoutheastcorner,isalwayswaitingforyou.Andyoudolikethesea,andseeingthesail-boatsinthemorning.\"
Ifeltanemptinesswhenthetrainpulledout.Ididlovemyfamily,afterall!Iwouldgobacktothedesertedhouse,andIcouldnotbeartolookinatthenurserydoor,atthelittlebedswithcoversflungoverthem.Whycouldn\'tIappreciatethesejoyswhenIhadthem?
Oneevening,aswewenthomeinanopenstreet-cartogether,aftersuchadeparture,Tomblurtedout:——
\"Hugh,IbelieveIcareforyourfamilyasmuchasformyown.Ioftenwonderifyourealizehowwonderfulthesechildrenare!Myboysarejustplainruffians——althoughIthinkthey\'reprettydecentruffians,butMatthewhasamind——he\'sthoughtful——andanimagination.He\'llmakeanameforhimselfsomedayifhe\'ssteeredproperlyandallowedtodevelopnaturally.Moreton\'smorelikemyboys.AndasforChickabiddy!——\"
wordsfailedhim.
Iputmyhandonhisknee.IactuallylovedhimagainasIhadlovedandyearnedforhimasachild,——hewassohuman,sodependable.Andwhycouldn\'tthisfeelinglast?Hedisapproved——foolishly,Ithought——ofmyprofessionalcareer,andthiswasonlyoneofhislimitations.ButI
knewthathewasloyal.Whyhadn\'tIbeenabletobreatheandbereasonablyhappyinthatatmosphereoffriendshipandloveinwhichIhadbeenplaced——orratherinwhichIhadplacedmyself?BeforethesummerwasadayortwoolderIhadgrownaccustomedtobeingalone,andenjoyedtheliberty;andwhenMaudeandthechildrenreturnedintheautumn,similarly,ittookmesomedaystogetusedtotherestrictionsimposedbyahousehold.Iruntheriskofshockingthosewhoreadthisbydeclaringthatifmyfamilyhadbeentakenpermanentlyoutofmylife,Ishouldnotlonghavemissedthem.Butonthewhole,inthoseyearsmymarriagerelationmightbecalledanegativeone.Thereweremoments,asIhavedescribed,whenIwarmedtoMaude,momentswhenIfeltsomethingakintoaviolentantagonismarousedbylittlemannerismsandtricksshehad.Thefactthatwegotalongaswellaswedidwasprobablyduetotheorthodoxteachingwithwhichwehadbeeninoculated,——totheeffectthatmatrimonywasamoraltrial,ashaking-downprocess.Butmoraltrialswereceasingtoappealtopeople,andmoreandmoreofthemwererefusingtobeshakendown.Wedidn\'tcuttheGordianknot,butwemanagedtoloosenitconsiderably.
IhavespokenofanewspeciesoftitanswhoinhabitedthegiantbuildingsinWallStreet,NewYork,andfoughtamongthemselvesforpossessionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Itisinterestingtonotethatinthesestrugglesacertainchivalrywasobservedamongthecombatants,nomatterhowbittertherivalry:forinstance,itwasdeemedverybadformforoneofthegroupsofcombatantstotakethepublicintotheirconfidence;citieswereupsetandstirredtothecorebytheseconflicts,andthecitizensneverknewwhowasdoingthefighting,butimaginedthatsomeburningissuewasatstakethatconcernedthem.Asamatteroffacttheissuealwaysdidconcernthem,butnotinthewaytheysupposed.
Gradually,outofthechaoticmeleeinwhichthesetitanswereengagedhademergedonegroupmorepowerfulthantherestandmorerespectable,whoseleaderwasthePersonalitytowhomIhavebeforereferred.HeandhisgrouphadmanagedtogaincontrolofcertainconservativefortressesinvariouscitiessuchastheCornNationalBankandtheAshuelaTelephoneCompany——tomentiontwoofmany:AdolfSchererwashisally,andtheBoyneIronWorks,Limited,wassoontobemergedbyhimintoagreatercorporationstill.LeonardDickinsonmightbecalledhislocalgovernor-general.Wemannedtheparapetsandkeptourearsconstantlytothegroundtolistenfortherumbleofattacks;butsometimestheyburstuponusfiercelyandsuddenly,withoutwarning.SuchwastheassaultontheAshuela,whichforyearshadexercisedanapparentlysecuremonopolyofthecity\'stelephoneservice,whichhadbeenabletoignorewithcomplacencytheshrillestprotestsofunreasonablesubscribers.ThroughthePilotitwasannouncedtothepublicthatcertainbenevolent\"Easterncapitalists\"werereadytorescuethemfromtheirthraldomifthecitywouldgrantthemafranchise.Mr.Lawler,thedisinterestednessofwhosenewspapercouldnotbedoubted,fannedtheflamedaybyday,senthisreportersaboutthecitygatheringinstancesofthehaughtyneglectoftheAshuela,proclaimingitsinstrumentsantiquatedcomparedwiththoseusedinmoreprogressivecities,ascomparedwiththeverylatestinventionswhichtheAutomaticCompanywasreadytoinstallprovidedtheycouldgettheirfranchise.Andtheprices!These,too,wouldfall——
undercompetition.Itwasaclevercampaign.Ifthecitywouldgivethemafranchise,thatAutomaticCompany——sowellnamed!wouldprovideautomaticinstruments.Eachsubscriber,bymeansofanumericaldisk,couldcallupanyother,subscriber;therewouldbenocentraloperator,nolistening,notappingofwires;thenumberofcallswouldbeunlimited.AsaproofoftheconfidenceoftheseEasterngentlemeninourcity,theywerewillingtospendfivemillions,andpresentmorethansixhundredtelephonesfreetothecitydepartments!Whatwasfairer,moregenerousthanthis!Therecouldbenodoubtthatpopularenthusiasmwasenlistedinbehalfofthe\"EasternCapitalists,\"whoweremadetoappearinthelightofCrusadersreadytorescueagroaningpeoplefromthethrallofmonopoly.Theexcitementapproachedthatofapresidentialelection,andbecamethedominanttopicatquick-lunchcountersandinstreet-cars.Cheapandefficientservice!DownwiththeBastilleofmonopoly!
AscounselfortheAshuela,Mr.Ogilvysentforme,andbycertainsecretconduitsofinformationatmydisposalIwasnotlongindiscoveringthedisquietingfactthataMr.Orthwein,whowasdescribedasagentlemanwithfatfingersandaplausiblemanner,hadbeenintownforaweekandhadbeentwiceseenenteringandemergingfromMonahan\'ssaloon.Inshort,Mr.Jasonhadalreadybeen\"seen.\"NeverthelessIwenttohimmyself,tofindhimforthefirsttimeinmyexperienceabsolutelynon-
committal.
\"What\'stheAshuelawillingtodo?\"hedemanded.
Imentionedasum,andheshookhishead.Imentionedanother,andstillheshookhishead.
\"Come\'roundagain,\"hesaid
IwascompelledtoreportthisalarmingsituationtoOgilvyandDickinsonandafewchosenmembersofapanickyboardofdirectors.
\"It\'sthatdamnedGranniscrowd,\"saidDickinson,mentioninganaggressivegentlemanwhohadmigratedfromChicagotoWallStreetsomefiveyearsbeforeinapinkcollar.
\"Butwhat\'stobedone?\"demandedOgilvy,playingnervouslywithagoldpencilonthepolishedtable.HewasoneofthoseAmericanswhoinacommercialatmospherebecomeprematurelywhite,andtodayhisboyish,smooth-shavenfacewasalmostasdevoidofcolourashishair.EvenLeonardDickinsonshowedanxiety,whichwasunusualforhim.
\"You\'vegottofixit,Hugh,\"hesaid.
Ididnotseemyway,butIhadlongagolearnedtoassumetheunruffledairandjudicialmannerofspeakingthatinspiresthelaymanwithalmostsuperstitiousconfidenceinthelawyer
\"We\'llfindawayout,\"Isaid.
Mr.Jason,ofcourse,heldthekeytothesituation,andjusthowIwastogetaroundhimwasproblematical.Inthemeantimetherewasthepublic:topermittheotherfellowtocapturethatwastobelackinginordinaryprudence;ifitsvotescountedfornothing,itssavingsweredesirable;anditwasfastgettingintoastateofoutrageagainstmonopoly.ThechivalryoffinancedidnotpermitofarevelationthatMr.GrannisandhisbuccaneerswerebehindtheAutomatic,butitwaspossibletodirectandstrengthenthebackfirewhichtheEraandotherconservativenewspapershadalreadybegun.Mr.TallantfordelicatereasonsbeingpersonanongrataattheBoyneClub,despitethefactthathehadsomanyfriendsthere,wemetforlunchinaprivateroomatthenewhotel,andaswesippedourcoffeeandsmokedourcigarsweplannedaseriesofeditorialsandarticlesthatdulyappeared.Theymadeastrongappealtotheloyaltyofourcitizenstostandbythehomecompanyandhomecapitalthathadtakengenerousriskstogivethemserviceatatimewhenthefutureofthetelephonebusinesswasbynomeansassured;theybelittledthechargesmadebyirresponsibleandinterested\"parties,\"andfinallypointedout,notwithouteffect,thatonelogicalconsequenceofhavingtwotelephonecompanieswouldbetocompelsubscribersinself-
defencetoinstalltwotelephonesinsteadofone.Andwherewasthesavinginthat?
\"Say,Paret,\"saidJudahB.whenwehadfinishedourlabours;\"ifyouevergetsickofthelaw,I\'llgiveyouajobontheEra\'sstaff.Thisisfine,thewayyouputit.It\'lldoalotofgood,buthowinhellareyougoingtohandleJudd?\"
Forthreedaystheinspirationwaswithheld.Andthen,asIwasstrollingdownBoyneStreetafterlunchgazingintothestorewindowsitcamesuddenly,withoutwarning.Likemostinspirationsworthanything,itwasverysimple.WithinhalfanhourIhadreachedMonahan\'ssaloonandfoundMr.Jasonoutofbed,butstillinhisbedroom,seatedmeditativelyatthewindowthatlookedoverthealley.
\"YouknowthecrowdinNewYorkbehindthisAutomaticcompanyaswellasIdo,Jason,\"Isaid.\"Whydoyouwanttodealwiththemwhenwe\'vealwaysbeenstraightwithyou,whenwe\'rereadytomeetthemandgoonebetter?Nameyourprice.\"
\"SupposeIdo——whatthen,\"hereplied.\"Thisthing\'sgoneprettyfar.
Underthatdamnednewcharterthefranchisehasgottobebidfor——hasn\'tit?Andthepeoplewantthiscompany.There\'llbeahowlfromoneendofthistowntotheotherifwethrow\'emdown.\"
\"We\'lllookoutforthepublic,\"Iassuredhim,smiling.
\"Well,\"hesaid,withoneofhisglancesthatwerelikeflashes,\"whatyougotupyoursleeve?\"
\"Supposeanothertelephonecompanystepsin,andbidsalittlehigherforthefranchise.Thatrelieves,youraldermenofallresponsibility,doesn\'tit?\"