“I find myself face to face with certain duties and responsibilities,” Gorham began, “which appall me with their far-reaching significance, and I have asked you, who are the nearest and dearest to me, to be witnesses of my faithful performance of them, to the extent of my understanding.”

Gorham paused, and seemed to deliberate before making his next statement, unconscious of the tenseness of the silence which his words had produced.

“First of all, it is my immediate intention to take such steps as are necessary to bring about the disintegration of the Consolidated Companies.”

“But you can’t do it,” Sanford declared.  “The corporation is solvent, the directors and the stockholders will of course be against it, and you will be powerless.”  “I have considered all that,” Gorham replied, quietly.

“What you say might be true six months from now, if the Executive Committee succeed in wrenching my control from me; but to-day I have the strength.  The stockholders have invested because of their faith in me; because of this same faith they will accept my statement that the Companies’ future is imperilled,—­and the Government itself will help me to accomplish my purpose.”

“You are convinced, then, that the principles you built on are wrong?” asked Sanford, unable to keep from showing some satisfaction in his voice.

“No,” Gorham replied, firmly.  “The principles are right,—­the wrong lies in that human instinct which finds itself incapable of living up to its best standard.  I believed that my success had been due to a recognition of my principle, when in reality it came from the simplest possible expression of self-interest.  If we go on, the Companies’ continued success means a growth beyond my control,—­recent events show that it has almost reached that point already,—­and when once in the hands of others, it can be nothing but a menace to the people.

“And now for the most humiliating confession of all:  I myself have been guilty of an exercise of my own self-interest as flagrant as any of my associates, though in a different way.  Their lust has been for gold, while mine has been for a justification of an idea.  My self-interest has been less malignant in its possible effects, but it has been my controlling influence none the less.  With due humility, I confess that I have attempted to assume a role which belongs to Providence, and that no man has a right to do.  I have been guilty of violating certain laws of life, just as my associates have violated other laws which to me demand observance; but I have recognized the tendency of things to gravitate back to their natural positions before it is too late for me not to make certain that they do so.  In order to prevent this corporation from becoming a great power for evil, and as a final evidence of the strength which I still possess, I propose to force its dissolution.”

“You have a big contract on your hands, Gorham,” Sanford replied; “I don’t believe even you can do it.”