“Show him in at once. Ah, good-morning, Mr. Grinnell.” The president rose and walked toward the young man with outstretched hand.
“Good-morning, Mr. Dawson,” said Grinnell cheerfully. He became aware of Mr. Mellen, who was staring at him unblinkingly, and hesitated.
“Mr. Grinnell, let me introduce my friend, Mr. William Mellen.”
“How do you do, Mr. Mellen?” said Grinnell. Mr. Mellen shook hands and Grinnell gazed attentively at the richest man in the world. After a slight pause, he added deprecatingly, as if to explain his scrutiny; “I have read so much about you, Mr. Mellen. I hope you will pardon my rudeness.”
“I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Grinnell. I have heard a great deal about you, lately.” Mellen said this almost impatiently. He was a man whose business soul was dark and tortuous, like his methods. His speech was habitually non-committal, and he had won more battles and more millions by patience than by aggression. But now he was eager to plunge into a cross-examination of the young man before him. Yet, he looked ill at ease. Perhaps he feared to find that Dawson was not mistaken in his wild surmises.
“Yes,” put in the bank president, with an ingratiating smile at the young man, “I have taken the liberty of speaking to Mr. Mellen about you.” A slight frown appeared on Grinnell’s face. The president hastened to add: “He is the only soul on earth to whom I have spoken. You see, Mr. Grinnell, I was very anxious to bring you two together. Yours is an extraordinary case; and Mr. Mellen is not only a director of this bank, but I consider him, as a business man and financier, one of the—”
“Never mind all that, Dawson,” interrupted Mellen, with a curious mixture of habitual smoothness and an unwonted sharpness, as if deprecating flattery, and at the same time resenting the president’s apologetic attitude. “Mr. Grinnell, I am sure you must realize that you have created a condition which may become of national importance, since it contains a dire menace to this country’s business.” He assumed, toward the end of his speech, or his voice and manner did, that Mr. Grinnell and he were in accord on that point.
Grinnell looked distinctly surprised. When he spoke, both his hearers felt absolutely assured that he wished to gain time, to plan a defence.
“I certainly do not realize anything of the kind, Mr. Mellen.”
“Then, sir, it is high time you did,” returned Mellen. His face was composed, but in the composure there was menace. Mr.