the titan-第7章

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　dress；　flashing　fulgurously　through　the　closely　netted　green。

〃Charming；　girlie。　　You've　outdone　yourself。　　I　haven't　seen　this　dress　before。　　Where　did　you　get　it？〃

〃Here　in　Chicago。〃

He　lifted　her　warm　fingers；　surveying　her　train；　and　turned　her　about。

〃You　don't　need　any　advice。　　You　ought　to　start　a　school。〃

〃Am　I　all　right？〃　she　queried；　smartly；　but　with　a　sense　of　self…distrust　for　the　moment；　and　all　because　of　him。

〃You're　perfect。　　Couldn't　be　nicer。　　Splendid！〃

She　took　heart。

〃I　wish　your　friends　would　think　so。　　You'd　better　hurry。〃

He　went　up…stairs；　and　she　followed；　looking　first　into　the　dining…room　again。　　At　least　that　was　right。　　Surely　Frank　was　a　master。

At　seven　the　plop　of　the　feet　of　carriage…horses　was　heard；　and　a　moment　later　Louis；　the　butler；　was　opening　the　door。　　Aileen　went　down；　a　little　nervous；　a　little　frigid；　trying　to　think　of　many　pleasant　things；　and　wondering　whether　she　would　really　succeed　in　being　entertaining。　　Cowperwood　accompanied　her；　a　very　different　person　in　so　far　as　mood　and　self…poise　were　concerned。　　To　himself　his　own　future　was　always　secure；　and　that　of　Aileen's　if　he　wished　to　make　it　so。　　The　arduous；　upward…ascending　rungs　of　the　social　ladder　that　were　troubling　her　had　no　such　significance　to　him。

The　dinner；　as　such　simple　things　go；　was　a　success　from　what　might　be　called　a　managerial　and　pictorial　point　of　view。　　Cowperwood；　because　of　his　varied　tastes　and　interests；　could　discuss　railroading　with　Mr。　Rambaud　in　a　very　definite　and　illuminating　way；　could　talk　architecture　with　Mr。　Lord　as　a　student；　for　instance；　of　rare　promise　would　talk　with　a　master；　and　with　a　woman　like　Mrs。　Addison　or　Mrs。　Rambaud　he　could　suggest　or　follow　appropriate　leads。　　Aileen；　unfortunately；　was　not　so　much　at　home；　for　her　natural　state　and　mood　were　remote　not　so　much　from　a　serious　as　from　an　accurate　conception　of　life。　　So　many　things；　except　in　a　very　nebulous　and　suggestive　way；　were　sealed　books　to　Aileenmerely　faint；　distant　tinklings。　　She　knew　nothing　of　literature　except　certain　authors　who　to　the　truly　cultured　might　seem　banal。　　As　for　art；　it　was　merely　a　jingle　of　names　gathered　from　Cowperwood's　private　comments。　　Her　one　redeeming　feature　was　that　she　was　truly　beautiful　herselfa　radiant；　vibrating　objet　d'art。　　A　man　like　Rambaud；　remote；　conservative；　constructive；　saw　the　place　of　a　woman　like　Aileen　in　the　life　of　a　man　like　Cowperwood　on　the　instant。　　She　was　such　a　woman　as　he　would　have　prized　himself　in　a　certain　capacity。

Sex　interest　in　all　strong　men　usually　endures　unto　the　end；　governed　sometimes　by　a　stoic　resignation。　　The　experiment　of　such　attraction　can；　as　they　well　know；　be　made　over　and　over；　but　to　what　end？　For　many　it　becomes　too　troublesome。　　Yet　the　presence　of　so　glittering　a　spectacle　as　Aileen　on　this　night　touched　Mr。　Rambaud　with　an　ancient　ambition。　　He　looked　at　her　almost　sadly。　Once　he　was　much　younger。　　But　alas；　he　had　never　attracted　the　flaming　interest　of　any　such　woman。　　As　he　studied　her　now　he　wished　that　he　might　have　enjoyed　such　good　fortune。

In　contrast　with　Aileen's　orchid　glow　and　tinted　richness　Mrs。　Rambaud's　simple　gray　silk；　the　collar　of　which　came　almost　to　her　ears；　was　disturbingalmost　reprovingbut　Mrs。　Rambaud's　ladylike　courtesy　and　generosity　made　everything　all　right。　　She　came　out　of　intellectual　New　Englandthe　Emerson…Thoreau…Channing　Phillips　school　of　philosophyand　was　broadly　tolerant。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　liked　Aileen　and　all　the　Orient　richness　she　represented。　〃Such　a　sweet　little　house　this　is；〃　she　said；　smilingly。　　〃We've　noticed　it　often。　　We're　not　so　far　removed　from　you　but　what　we　might　be　called　neighbors。〃

Aileen's　eyes　spoke　appreciation。　　Although　she　could　not　fully　grasp　Mrs。　Rambaud；　she　understood　her；　in　a　way；　and　liked　her。　　She　was　probably　something　like　her　own　mother　would　have　been　if　the　latter　had　been　highly　educated。　　While　they　were　moving　into　the　reception…room　Taylor　Lord　was　announced。　　Cowperwood　took　his　hand　and　brought　him　forward　to　the　others。

〃Mrs。　Cowperwood；〃　said　Lord；　admiringlya　tall；　rugged；　thoughtful　person〃let　me　be　one　of　many　to　welcome　you　to　Chicago。　　After　Philadelphia　you　will　find　some　things　to　desire　at　first；　but　we　all　come　to　like　it　eventually。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　sure　I　shall；〃　smiled　Aileen。

〃I　lived　in　Philadelphia　years　ago；　but　only　for　a　little　while；〃　added　Lord。　　〃I　left　there　to　come　here。〃

The　observation　gave　Aileen　the　least　pause；　but　she　passed　it　over　lightly。　　This　sort　of　accidental　reference　she　must　learn　to　expect；　there　might　be　much　worse　bridges　to　cross。

〃I　find　Chicago　all　right；〃　she　replied；　briskly。　　〃There's　nothing　the　matter　with　it。　　It　has　more　snap　than　Philadelphia　ever　had。〃

〃I'm　glad　to　hear　you　say　that。　　I　like　it　so　much。　　Perhaps　it's　because　I　find　such　interesting　things　to　do　here。〃

He　was　admiring　the　splendor　of　her　arms　and　hair。　　What　need　had　beautiful　woman　to　be　intellectual；　anyhow；　he　was　saying　to　himself；　sensing　that　Aileen　might　be　deficient　in　ultimate　refinement。

Once　more　an　announcement　from　the　butler；　and　now　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Addison　entered。　　Addison　was　not　at　all　concerned　over　coming　hereliked　the　idea　of　it；　his　own　position　and　that　of　his　wife　in　Chicago　was　secure。　　〃How　are　you；　Cowperwood？〃　he　beamed；　laying　one　hand　on　the　latter's　shoulder。　　〃This　is　fine　of　you　to　have　us　in　to…night。　　Mrs。　Cowperwood；　I've　been　telling　your　husband　for　nearly　a　year　now　that　he　should　bring　you　out　here。　Did　he　tell　you？〃　（Addison　had　not　as　yet　confided　to　his　wife　the　true　history　of　Cowperwood　and　Aileen。）

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　replied　Aileen；　gaily；　feeling　that　Addison　was　charmed　by　her　beauty。　　〃I've　been　wanting　to　come；　too。　　It's　his　fault　that　I　wasn't　here　sooner。〃

Addison；　looking　circumspectly　at　Aileen；　said　to　himself　that　she　was　certainly　a　stunning…looking　woman。　　So　she　was　the　cause　of　the　first　wife's　suit。　　No　wonder。　　What　a　splendid　creature！　He　contrasted　her　with　Mrs。　Addison；　and　to　his　wife's　disadvantage。　She　had　never　been　as　striking；　as　stand…upish　as　Aileen；　though　possibly　she　might　have　more　sense。　　Jove！　if　he　could　find　a　woman　like　Aileen　to…day。　　Life　would　take　on　a　new　luster。　　And　yet　he　had　womenvery　carefully；　very　subterraneously。　　But　he　had　them。

〃It's　such　a　pleasure　to　meet　you；〃　Mrs。　Addison；　a　corpulent；　bejeweled　lady；　was　saying　to　Aileen。　　〃My　husband　and　yours　have　become　the　best　of　friends；　apparently。　　We　must　see　more　of　each　other。〃

She　babbled　on　in　a　puffy　social　way；　and　Aileen　felt　as　though　she　were　getting　along　swiftly。　　The　butler　brought　in　a　great　tray　of　appetizers　and　cordials；　and　put　them　softly　on　a　remote　table。　　Dinner　was　served；　and　the　talk　flowed　on；　they　discussed　the　growth　of　the　city；　a　new　church　that　Lord　was　building　ten　blocks　farther　out；　Rambaud　told　about　some　humorous　land　swindles。　It　was　quite　gay。　　Meanwhile　Aileen　did　her　best　to　become　interested　in　Mrs。　Rambaud　and　Mrs。　Addison。　　She　liked　the　latter　somewhat　better；　solely　because　it　was　a　little　easier　to　talk　to　her。　　Mrs。　Rambaud　Aileen　knew　to　be　the　wiser　and　more　charitable　woman；　but　she　frightened　her　a　little；　presently　she　had　to　fall　back　on　Mr。　Lord's　help。　　He　came　to　her　rescue　gallantly；　talking　of　everything　that　came　into　his　mind。　　All　the　men　outside　of　Cowperwood　were　thinking　how　splendid　Aileen　was　physically；　how　white　were　her　arms；　how　rounded　her　neck　and　shoulders；　how　rich　her　hair。




Chapter　VII



Chicago　Gas

Old　Peter　Laughlin；　rejuvenated　by　Cowperwood's　electric　ideas；　was　making　money　for　the　house。　　He　brought　many　bits　of　interesting　gossip　from　the　floor；　and　such　shrewd　guesses　as　to　what　certain　groups　and　individuals　were　up　to；　that　Cowperwood　was　able　to　make　some　very　brilliant　deductions。

〃By　Gosh！　Frank；　I　think　I　know　exactly　what　them　fellers　are　trying　to　do；〃　Laughlin　would　frequently　remark　of　a　morning；　after　he　had　lain　in　his　lonely　Harrison　Street　bed　meditating　the　major　portion　of　the　night。　　〃That　there　Stock　Yards　gang〃　（and　by　gang　he　meant　most　of　the　great　manipulators；　like　Arneel；　Hand；　Schryhart　and　others）　〃are　after　corn　again。　　We　want　to　git　long　o'　that　now；　or　I　miss　my　guess。　　What　do　you　think；　huh？〃

Cowperwood；　schooled　by　now　in　many　Western　subtleties　which　he　had　not　previously　known；　and　daily　becoming　wiser；　would　as　a　rule　give　an　instantaneous　decision。

〃You're　right。　　Risk　a　hundred　thousand　bushels。　　I　think　New　York　Central　is　going　to　drop　a　point　or　two　in　a　few　days。　　We'd　better　go　short　a　point。〃

Laughlin　could　never　figure　out　quite　how　it　was　that　Cowperwood　always　seemed　to　know　and　was　ready　to　act　quite　as　quickly　in　local　matters　as　he　was　himself。　　He　understood　his　wisdom　concerning　Eastern　shares　and　things　dealt　in　on　the　Eastern　exchange；　but　these　Chicago　matters？

〃Whut　makes　you　think　that？〃　he　asked　Cowperwood；　one　day；　quite　curiously。

〃Why；　Peter；〃　Cowperwood　replied；　quite　simply；　〃Anton　Videra〃　（one　of　the　directors　of　the　Wheat　and　Corn　Bank）　〃was　in　here　yesterday　while　you　were　on　'change；　and　he　was　telling　me。〃　He　described　a　situation　which　Videra　had　outlined。

Laughlin　knew　Videra　as　a　strong；　wealthy　Pole　who　had　come　up　in　the　last　few　years。　　It　was　strange　how　Cowperwood　naturally　got　in　with　these　wealthy　men　and　won　their　confidence　so　quickly。　　Videra　would　never　have　become　so　confidential　with　him。

〃Huh！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Well；　if　he　says　it　it's　more'n　likely　so。〃

So　Laughlin　bought；　and　Peter　Laughlin　&　Co。　won。

But　this　grain　and　commission　business；　while　it　was　yielding　a　profit　which　would　average　about　twenty　thousand　a　year　to　each　partner；　was　nothing　more　to　Cowperwood　than　a　source　of　information。

He　wanted　to　〃get　in〃　on　something　that　was　sure　to　bring　very　great　returns　within　a　reasonable　time　and　that　would　not　leave　him　in　any　such　desperate　situation　as　he　was　at　the　time　of　the　Chicago　firespread　out　very　thin；　as　he　put　it。　　He　had　interested　in　his　ventures　a　small　group　of　Chicago　men　who　were　watching　himJudah　Addison；　Alexander　Rambaud；　Millard　Bailey；　Anton　Videramen　who；　although　not　supreme　figures　by　any　means；　had　free　capital。　　He　knew　that　he　could　go　to　them　with　any　truly　sound　proposition。　　The　one　thing　that　most　attracted　his　attention　was　the　Chicago　gas　situation；　because　there　was　a　chance　to　step　in　almost　unheralded　in　an　as　yet　unoccupied　territory；　with　franchises　once　securedthe　reader　can　quite　imagine　howhe　could　present　himself；　like　a　Hamilcar　Barca　in　the　heart　of　Spain　or　a　Hannibal　at　the　gates　of　Rome；　with　a　demand　for　surrender　and　a　division　of　spoils。

There　were　at　this　time　three　gas　companies　operating　in　the　three　different　divisions　of　the　citythe　three　sections；　or　〃sides；〃　as　they　were　calledSouth；　West；　and　North；　and　of　these　the　Chicago　Gas；　Light；　and　Coke　Company；　organized　in　1848　to　do　business　on　the　South　Side；　was　the　most　flourishing　and　important。　The　People's　Gas；　Light；　and　Coke　Company；　doing　business　on　the　West　Side；　was　a　few　years　younger　than　the　South　Chicago　company；　and　had　been　allowed　to　spring　intoexistence　through　the　foolis