“Very well.” The young man took from his pocket-book a package of slips. He read one after another—the bank president could see that they were Assay Office checks—and finally selected one. He said, “Here is a check for eleven millions two hundred thousand,” and returned the others—there were at least eight—to his pocket-book. “I shall deposit this.”
Mellen walked over to the desk and took the slip from Mr. Dawson’s hand with a calm authoritativeness, as though the bank president were his clerk, which, indeed, was what Wall Street thought, though erroneously. Then he turned to Grinnell.
“What assurance will you give that you will do nothing to ruin us? If the world knew your secret it would mean ruin for all, absolute ruin!” The sound of that word, uttered by himself, seemed to shake Mellen’s composure. He glared at the young man.
“Mr. Mellen,” said Grinnell, very quietly, “you are an older man than I. I shall try not to forget it.’”
“I must know! At once! Do you hear me?” said Mr. Mellen loudly. It was not exactly anger which burned in his eyes, but a sort of overgrown petulance at being baffled. There was an obstacle; it might be insurmountable. The uncertainty was in itself a check. An invincible pugilist had been knocked down for the first time in his career as champion.
“William!” said Mr. Dawson, approaching his friend; “you are excited.” Then to the young man, apologetically: “He has been under a severe strain for some time past.”
The richest man in the world grew composed as by magic. For the first time that day he became his normal self. He had crushed all opposition to his Syndicate twenty years before by the exercise of stupendous will-power. For a decade he had not been called upon to weigh his words or his actions. Through disuse the qualities that had made him the richest man in the world had atrophied. But now he was again the William Mellen his competitors had feared.
“Mr. Grinnell,” he said, with a politeness that was not excessive, “I apologize. I beg that you will forgive the nerves of a man who, as you say, is much older than you, and has many more troubles.”
“Have you thought of any investment yet, Mr. Grinnell?” interposed Mr. Dawson. It was to change the conversation. At the same time the answer would be interesting, possibly valuable. Mr. Mellen sat down and listened attentively.
“No, I have decided to wait until my deposits at the various banks are larger.”