Tommy left Rivington early and went home to dress for dinner. He found his father in the library reading the exasperating Evening Post.
Mr. Leigh looked up quickly. “Well, Thomas, did you have any luck to-day?”
“Colonel Willetts promised to take two hundred shares for Rivington and Marion. He was not what you'd call enthusiastic.”
“I understand he never is,” said Mr. Leigh, so peevishly that Tommy looked at him in surprise. “Did you tell him what the company had been making?”
“Oh yes! What he didn't like was that, no matter how well the company may do, under Mr. Thompson's new plans the stockholders won't get all the profits in dividends.”
“Did you tell him that the present stockholders are willing to subscribe for all the new stock?”
“I told him the capital was provided for, but I had this chance to interest personal friends.” Mr. Leigh frowned angrily. Tommy, who had never before seen such a look on his father's face, said, soothingly:
“He took me at my word. Rivington and Marion are my best friends.”
“Did you tell him that your company would be a dividend-payer when other concerns less far-seeing would be passing their dividends? Did you point out to him the trend of political thought in this country? Did you tell him that his own real-estate holdings in New York City, by reason of municipal extravagance, political maladministration, general inefficiency, and lack of co-operation among landlords, were not the safest investments? Did you tell him that Thompson realizes clearly the changed attitude of the entire world toward property rights and capital and toward the rights of the producing classes? Did you tell him that a man who is wise enough to be content with eight per cent, on his money now when he might get twenty per cent, is more likely to be getting the same eight per cent. when to-day's twenty-per cent. payers will be writing off the loss of principal to-morrow? Did you?”
Mr. Leigh's vehemence and the accusing ring of his voice astonished Tommy.