With this chameleon turn of complexion, the astute contriver realized that he had scored.  To Hamilton Burton’s eyes came a quick flash of gratification and he held out his hand.  “If I can be implacable in battle,” he said quietly, “I can also be a friend to my friends.  I told you that in an hour I could guarantee victory—­or release you.  I am awaiting two men with whom I have yet to deal.  Will you also wait?”

Mr. Hendricks bowed.  “This—­this evidence—­” he questioned suddenly.  “Has any other possible enemy access to it?”

Hamilton Burton smiled as he shook his head.  “No, it is in my sole keeping.  I shall not surrender it to other ‘possible enemies.’”

With the two bankers, whom Tarring shortly ushered in, Hamilton came even more promptly to conclusions.

“Malone is ill,” he began.  “Any alarms thrown into the Street just now would start pandemonium.  If tomorrow should bring such conditions, would your banks suffer?”

Fairley of the Metallic shook his head gravely.  “If a panic developed just now many institutions would go to the wall.  As to how many or which ones, I could not answer off-hand.”

Henry of the Deposit supplemented with added detail.  “The national mind is hysterical beyond the usual and this is a time of heightened danger.  It’s the period when $200,000,000 are needed for crop-transportation and delivery.  That means financial equinox.”

The young Titan glanced seriously from one to the other.  “I know of influences coming to a head tomorrow which are calculated to throw the Street and Exchange into panic condition—­unless we devise means of averting that catastrophe.  For that reason I asked you to come here tonight.”

The bankers stood silent, but upon their faces was stamped the shock of the news.  Coming from so authoritative a source, it required no actual proof.

“We may gather then,” suggested Henry at last, “that you stand with us in our desire to avert this calamity?”

“Gentlemen,” Burton’s voice again became compelling and crisp—­but very hard, “on certain conditions I shall avert this panic—­on others I shall cause it.  The alternative is for your decision.”

Fairley and Henry drew a little closer together by common impulse as if for alliance in danger.  A long silence, freighted with tensity, followed until Fairley inquired in a stunned voice:  “Please explain.”

With the crisp impersonality of a prosecutor Hamilton Burton talked.  He outlined his plans, gave a glimpse of his tremendous levers of power; let them see what engines of destruction he controlled and finally made his demand.  When he was through neither of his visitors could doubt his might or his intent.  At the end he said: