"Well, if you think the emergency calls for it, you can count on a million," said Partridge.
One after another the men named the amounts for which they would stand responsible, and Wharton Kendrick jotted down the figures in his memorandum-book.
"Please make out your checks, gentlemen," he said at last. "Here is ten million dollars pledged to the committee."
"That will be enough," said Coleman with decision. "I think that our arrangements cover every point where there can be a break in the markets."
"Unless it's M. & N., and the bank we mentioned," said Nelson.
"Oh, yes," said Kendrick; "our arrangements cover them, too. We've got to back them up till this storm is over. They are bound to go some day, but if they go now there will be a smash all along the line. Partridge will see to getting the best collateral they have, and we'll feed them just enough to keep their doors open."
"They will draw pretty heavily on the pool if disorder actually starts," said another.
"Oh," said Partridge, "we have a very comfortable reserve, and it isn't likely that there will be an actual outbreak."
"Well, we have prepared for every emergency," said a stout and sleepy-looking man in the corner; "and as we're likely to have a hard day of it to-morrow, I move we get home and to bed. It's three minutes of midnight, now."
The suggestion appeared to be approved, for everybody rose with the breaking-up atmosphere that ends a gathering.