"Really, that’s the highest testimony to the League’s strength that we’ve had yet."
"Yes, but, of course, I told him I couldn’t do that."
"He said he was afraid the City Chamberlain would withdraw all the city funds on deposit at the East County if the bank kept on carrying a loan you were interested in."
"I didn’t. You ought to know me better than that."
"I was indignant. I told you I was. I said I would not have a loan from a concern that interfered with the political convictions of its creditors. I said I would go somewhere else."
"Yes, I did," he said; "and it was the most humiliating experience of my career. When I thought of the firm of R. H. Forbes & Son begging credit, I could hardly bear it. But I went to the Lexington National."
"They listened very politely and said they would consider the proposition."
"Well, then," said Luke, "you’re crossing a bridge before you come to it."
"No, I am not; for presently they sent over a messenger with a note that was no more than an insulting refusal."
"No, I tried again. I tried Clement & Co." Forbes seemed unable to conclude.
"They wouldn’t consider it for a moment, Huber."
Luke did not like to look at Forbes’s suffering, but he had to hear the end.
"What more could I do?" he demanded. "If it became known that the firm was going begging—yes, begging—from bank to bank, what would happen to our credit? I didn’t dare to go anywhere else. I—Huber, I went back to Osserman and asked him for time."
Luke sat down. He picked up a paper and made a transparent pretense of glancing at it.
"A whole week?" Luke tried to appear encouraged. "That’s six good working days. You can get the money together in that time."
"Huber"—Forbes came over to Luke and stood above the newspaper—"I’ve told you what it would do to our credit to try. But I’ve come to the conclusion that we could not get this money from any bank in America."
"What do you mean? Not if we have security?"
"Not if we could offer the Metropolitan Life Building for security. Not from any bank in America."
"But that——" He stopped a moment, and then went on: "But there’s only one group of men in the country that could put up such a wall."
"That," said Forbes simply, "is the group I mean."
Luke’s eyes were veiled. He rose and walked across the room. Presently, over his shoulder, he inquired sharply: