that day has been cited in some of our modern text…books as a classic
consequence of that archaic school of economics to which the name of
Manchester is attached。 Some half dozen or so of the railroads running
through the anthracite coal region had pooled their interests；an
extremely profitable proceeding。 The public paid。 We deemed it quite
logical that the public should payhaving been created largely for that
purpose； and very naturally we resented the fact that the meddling Person
who had got into the White House without asking anybody's leave；who
apparently did not believe in the infallibility of our legal Bible； the
Constitution；should maintain that the anthracite roads had formed a
combination in restraint of trade； should lay down the preposterous
doctrineso subversive of the Rights of Manthat railroads should not
own coal mines。 Congress had passed a law to meet this contention； suit
had been brought； and in the lower court the government had won。
As the day wore on our numbers increased； we were joined by other lawyers
of renown； not the least of whom was Mr。 Grolier himself； fresh from his
triumph over religious heresy in his Church Convention。 The note of the
conference became tinged with exasperation； and certain gentlemen seized
the opportunity to relieve their pent…up feelings on the subject of the
President and his slavish advisers；some of whom； before they came under
the spell of his sorcery； had once been sound lawyers and sensible men。
With the exception of the great Banker himself； who made few comments；
Theodore Watling was accorded the most deference； as one of the leaders
of that indomitable group of senators who had dared to stand up against
popular clamour； his opinions were of great value； and his tactical
advice was listened to with respect。 I felt more pride than ever in my
former chief； who had lost none of his charm。 While in no way minimizing
the seriousness of the situation； his wisdom was tempered； as always；
with humour； he managed； as it were； to neutralize the acid injected into
the atmosphere by other gentlemen present； he alone seemed to bear no
animus against the Author of our troubles； suave and calm； good natured；
he sometimes brought the company into roars of laughter and even
succeeded in bringing occasional smiles to the face of the man who had
summoned uswhen relating some characteristic story of the queer genius
whom the fates （undoubtedly as a practical joke） had made the chief
magistrate of the United States of America。 All geniuses have
weaknesses； Mr。 Wading had made a study of the President's； and more than
once had lured him into an impasse。 The case had been appealed to the
Supreme Court； and Mr。 Wading； with remarkable conciseness and
penetration； reviewed the characteristics of each and every member of
that tribunal； all of whom he knew intimately。 They were； of course； not
subject to 〃advice；〃 as were some of the gentlemen who sat on our state
courts； no sane and self…respecting American would presume to 〃approach〃
them。 Nevertheless they were human； and it were wise to take account； in
the conduct of the case； of the probable bias of each individual。
The President； overstepping his constitutional； Newtonian limits； might
propose laws； Congress might acquiesce in them； but the Supreme Court；
after listening to lawyers like Grolier （and he bowed to the attorney）；
made them： made them； he might have added； without responsibility to any
man in our unique Republic that scorned kings and apotheosized lawyers。
A Martian with a sense of humour witnessing a stormy session of Congress
would have giggled at the thought of a few tranquil gentlemen in another
room of the Capitol waiting to decide what the people's representatives
meantor whether they meant anything。。。。
For the first time since I had known Theodore Watling； however； I saw him
in the shadow of another individual； a man who； like a powerful magnet；
continually drew our glances。 When we spoke； we almost invariably
addressed him； his rare words fell like bolts upon the consciousness。
There was no apparent rift in that personality。
When； about five o'clock； the conference was ended and we were dismissed；
United States Senator； railroad presidents； field…marshals of the law；
the great banker fell into an eager conversation with Grolier over the
Canon on Divorce； the subject of warm debate in the convention that day。
Grolier； it appeared； had led his party against the theological liberals。
He believed that law was static； but none knew better its plasticity；
that it was infallible； but none so well as he could find a text on
either side。 His reputation was not of the popular； newspaper sort； but
was known to connoisseurs； editors； financiers； statesmen and judges；to
those； in short； whose business it is to make themselves familiar with
the instruments of power。 He was the banker's chief legal adviser； the
banker's rapier of tempered steel； sheathed from the vulgar view save
when it flashed forth on a swift errand。
〃I'm glad to be associated with you in this case； Mr。 Paret；〃 Mr。 Grolier
said modestly； as we emerged into the maelstrom of Wall Street。 〃If you
can make it convenient to call at my office in the morning； we'll go over
it a little。 And I'll see you in a day or two in Washington； Watling。
Keep your eye on the bull；〃 he added； with a twinkle； 〃and don't let him
break any more china than you can help。 I don't know where we'd be if it
weren't for you fellows。〃
By 〃you fellows；〃 he meant Mr。 Watling's distinguished associates in the
Senate。。。。
Mr。 Watling and I dined together at a New York club。 It was not a dinner
of herbs。 There was something exceedingly comfortable about that club；
where the art of catering to those who had earned the right to be catered
to came as near perfection as human things attain。 From the great；
heavily curtained dining…room the noises of the city had been carefully
excluded； the dust of the Avenue； the squalour and smells of the brown
stone fronts and laddered tenements of those gloomy districts lying a
pistol…shot east and west。 We had a vintage champagne； and afterwards a
cigar of the club's special importation。
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Watling； 〃mow that you're a member of the royal council；
what do you think of the King？〃
〃I've been thinking a great deal about him；〃 I said； and indeed it was
true。 He had made； perhaps； his greatest impression when I had shaken
his hand in parting。 The manner in which he had looked at me then had
puzzled me； it was as though he were seeking to divine something in me
that had escaped him。 〃Why doesn't the government take him over？〃 I
exclaimed。
Mr。 Watling smiled。
〃You mean； instead of his mines and railroads and other properties？〃
〃Yes。 But that's your idea。 Don't you remember you said something of
the kind the night of the election； years ago？ It occurred to me to…day；
when I was looking at him。〃
〃Yes；〃 he agreed thoughtfully； 〃if some American genius could find a way
to legalize that power and utilize the men who created it the worst of
our problems would be solved。 A man with his ability has a right to
power； and none would respond more quickly or more splendidly to a call
of the government than he。 All this fight is waste； Hugh； damned waste
of the nation's energy。〃 Mr。 Watling seldom swore。 〃Look at the
President！ There's a man of remarkable ability； too。 And those two
oughtn't to be fighting each other。 The President's right； in a way。
Yes； he is； though I've got to oppose him。〃
I smiled at this from Theodore Watling； though I admired him the more for
it。 And suddenly； oddly； I happened to remember what Krebs had said；
that our troubles were not due to individuals； but to a disease that had
developed in industrial society。 If the day should come when such men as
the President and the great banker would be working together； was it not
possible； too； that the idea of Mr。 Watling and the vision of Krebs might
coincide？ I was struck by a certain seeming similarity in their views；
but Mr。 Watling interrupted this train of thought by continuing to
express his own。
〃Well；they're running right into a gale when they might be sailing with
it；〃 he said。
〃You think we'll have more trouble？〃 I asked。
〃More and more；〃 he replied。 〃It'll be worse before it's better I'm
afraid。〃 At this moment a club servant announced his cab； and he rose。
〃Well； good…bye； my son；〃 he said。 〃I'll hope to see you in Washington
soon。 And remember there's no one thinks any more of you than I do。〃
I escorted him to the door； and it was with a real pang I saw him wave to
me from his cab as he drove away。 My affection for him was never more
alive than in this hour when； for the first time in my experience； he had
given real evidence of an inner anxiety and lack of confidence in the
future。
XXI。
In spite of that unwonted note of pessimism from Mr。 Watling； I went home
in a day or two flushed with my new honours； and it was impossible not to
be conscious of the fact that my aura of prestige was increased
tremendously increasedby the recognition I had received。 A certain
subtle deference in the attitude of the small minority who owed
allegiance to the personage by whom I had been summoned was more
satisfying than if I had been acclaimed at the station by thousands of my
fellow…citizens who knew nothing of my journey and of its significance；
even though it might have a concern for them。 To men like Berringer；
Grierson and Tallant and our lesser great lights the banker was a semi…
mythical figure； and many times on the day of my return I was stopped on
the street to satisfy the curiosity of my friends as to my impressions。
Had he； for instance； let fall any opinions； prognostications on the
political and financial situation？ Dickinson and Scherer were the only
other men in the city who had the honour of a personal acquaintance with
him； and Scherer was away； abroad； gathering furniture and pictures for
the house in New York Nancy had predicted； and which he had already begun
to build！ With Dickinson I lunched in private； in order to give him a
detailed account of the conferenc