“Do you mean,” he asked, very pleasantly, for his bluff had been called, “Miss Calderon?”
The man sat down.
“Oh no!” he answered, unsmilingly.
“No? Then?” Mr. Merriwether was so surprised that he forgot not to show it.
“I am sorry you are a busy man, because what I have to say can not be hurried. First, you must chase from your mind all thoughts of Wall Street, high finance, railroad systems—and fill it with love!”
Mr. Merriwether looked alarmed. Would it all end with a Biblical text and an exhortation to endow some sort of a Home?
“You can do this,” pursued the man, imperturbably, “by thinking of your son Tom. He is your only son. You should love him. Once your mind is attuned to thoughts of love, you will be able to understand me more easily. Concentrate on love!” The man leaned back in his chair as though he were certain the attuning process would consume an hour, this being, alas! a Wall Street man; but Merriwether said, very promptly:
“I am ready for chapter two.”
“I doubt it. Love! The love of father for son, of son for mother, of son for wife, of son for father!”
“I understand. My mind works quickly. Go on!”