He paused so long that she ignored his injunction of silence.

“You know very well, uncle,” she said, “that I am not clever, and that I understand nothing whatever about business, or anything to do with it, but I can at least promise that I will be faithful.  That seems a very poor reward for all that you have done for me.”

“Yes!” he answered, “I believe that you mean that.  Now I must tell you this, that these four men who have dined with me here to-night, with myself, are under a solemn covenant to conduct all our operations upon the market and in finance, whether in this country or in Europe, absolutely in unison.  We control practically an unlimited capital, and we pool all profits.  We never speculate individually, at least that is a condition of our agreement.  You may not understand this, but such a combination as ours, honestly adhered to, can do what it likes with the money-markets anywhere.  We can bend them to our will.  We buy or sell, and our profits are sure.  We keep our agreement secret, but even then it is guessed at.  I can assure you that we are probably the five best hated men in America.  During the last two years we have made great fortunes.  Our system is perfect.  So far as the acquisition of wealth goes, there could be no object in any treachery, and yet one of these five men is playing a double game, if not more.”

“You have found him out?” she asked breathlessly.

He shook his head.

“It is not so easy,” he said, “only I know.  To-night,” he continued, lowering his voice almost to a whisper, “a new suspicion has come to me.  I have an idea that there is a scheme, in which all four are concerned, for ruining me and sharing the plunder,”

“It is infamous!” she cried, turning pale.

He smiled slowly.  It was the smile she hated.  It seemed to change his face from the similitude of a benevolent divine to something hard, almost satanic.

“The odds,” he continued, “seem heavy, but I have known one man hold his own against four before now.  You may not understand all these different points, but I must tell you this.  All through America, we millionaires, who operate largely upon the markets and control the finances of the country, are hated by the middle classes.  We are hated by the merchants, the fairly well-off people, the labouring classes, and, more than any others, perhaps, by the politicians.  Last month it was decided to strike a dangerous blow at us and our interests.  A bill is to come before the Senate before very long which is framed purposely to undermine our power.  Can you understand that?”

“I think so,” she answered.