“Back there in those damned hills, when I begged you to gamble on me, didn’t I tell you that I meant to give you more than you could ever want?  Didn’t I tell you that it would be my pride to anticipate and outdo your whims—­to dwarf them with bigger things?  You did gamble on me, when a little money was a frail barrier between you and the wolf—­you gambled to go stark-broke.”  He was pacing the room now as he talked, and his voice mounted.  “To me money is a passionless slave, the eunuch that serves my bidding, and serves blindly.  Cash has been my watchword.  There is not outside the United States Treasury another sum of unencumbered cash equal to that which I command.  Any part of it is yours at any time; how much do you want?”

“Why—­er—­a few thousand for the present.”

“Just state your figure and I’ll triple it.  You don’t have to make explanations—­or apologies.”  Then with a rather grim smile Ham added:  “That’s for Corbin to do.”

Tom Burton carefully drew down his waistcoat over his rotund middle and settled his hat on his head at an exact angle.  His son accompanied him to the elevator with an arm about his shoulder and as he returned to the outer office he directed curtly, “Carl, come into my room.  I want to see you.”

Inside he pointed to the bell.  “I had my hand three inches from that button a few minutes back to call Corbin in here and fire him.  I think I meant to sack everybody in this damned office—­except yourself, Carl.  I’m sick of these economists that hedge me round with unsolicited safeguards and try to defend me against myself and my family.”

“If Mr. Burton had come to me—­” began the secretary, but Hamilton Burton interrupted him.

“Have I failed to make myself entirely clear to my employees?” he inquired.  “Do I have to tell them every day that they need not be so damned economical with my money?  Haven’t I ordered that my father and my brother shall always be accommodated without question?” Bristoll nodded, but made no comment.

“Carl, please try once more to make Corbin understand that one of the things I pay him for is to obey orders.  Please make it plain beyond cavil that one of my most explicit orders is this:  When the Governor comes for money, his job is to begin digging.  Find out how much the Governor wants and give him some more.”

The secretary was valuable in part because he was frank and because in his sincere loyalty dwelt no taint of sycophant fawning.

“To be entirely just, sir, I think Corbin does understand you, but a cashier who gives out money with no check on disbursements feels the burden of his responsibility.  Any item that your father forgot would leave Corbin unpleasantly close to seeming a thief.  Of late, your father’s demands have been heavy.”