to Cowperwood, because he had to be. He explained
to him just how things were regulated at Harrisburg.
The big financiers were looked to for campaign funds.
They were represented by henchmen in the State assembly
and senate. The governor and the treasurer were
foot-free; but there were other influences—prestige,
friendship, social power, political ambitions,
etc.
The big men might constitute a close corporation,
which in itself was unfair; but, after all, they were
the legitimate sponsors for big money loans of this
kind. The State had to keep on good terms with
them, especially in times like these. Seeing
that Mr. Cowperwood was so well able to dispose of
the million he expected to get, it would be perfectly
all right to award it to him; but Van Nostrand had
a counter-proposition to make. Would Cowperwood,
if the financial crowd now handling the matter so
desired, turn over his award to them for a consideration—a
sum equal to what he expected to make—in
the event the award was made to him? Certain financiers
desired this. It was dangerous to oppose them.
They were perfectly willing he should put in a bid
for five million and get the prestige of that; to have
him awarded one million and get the prestige of that
was well enough also, but they desired to handle the
twenty-three million dollars in an unbroken lot.
It looked better. He need not be advertised as
having withdrawn. They would be content to have
him achieve the glory of having done what he started
out to do. Just the same the example was bad.
Others might wish to imitate him. If it were known
in the street privately that he had been coerced,
for a consideration, into giving up, others would
be deterred from imitating him in the future.
Besides, if he refused, they could cause him trouble.
His loans might be called. Various banks might
not be so friendly in the future. His constituents
might be warned against him in one way or another.
Cowperwood saw the point. He acquiesced.
It was something to have brought so many high and
mighties to their knees. So they knew of him!
They were quite well aware of him! Well and good.
He would take the award and twenty thousand or thereabouts
and withdraw. The State treasurer was delighted.
It solved a ticklish proposition for him.
“I’m glad to have seen you,” he
said. “I’m glad we’ve met.
I’ll drop in and talk with you some time when
I’m down this way. We’ll have lunch
together.”
The State treasurer, for some odd reason, felt that
Mr. Cowperwood was a man who could make him some money.
His eye was so keen; his expression was so alert,
and yet so subtle. He told the governor and some
other of his associates about him.
So the award was finally made; Cowperwood, after some
private negotiations in which he met the officers
of Drexel & Co., was paid his twenty thousand dollars
and turned his share of the award over to them.
New faces showed up in his office now from time to
time—among them that of Van Nostrand and
one Terrence Relihan, a representative of some other
political forces at Harrisburg. He was introduced
to the governor one day at lunch. His name was
mentioned in the papers, and his prestige grew rapidly.