“Quite tangible,” repeated Gallatin, scarcely concealing a smile.
“Then all I have to say, sir, is that you are a very extraordinary young man, a very useful young man to your clients, a very disappointing one to your adversaries.” And then turning to Leuppold: “You may contest, if you like, Mr. Leuppold. I won’t. This case is one for settlement.”
Then he turned to Gallatin again, and offered his huge hand, while the younger man, still doubtful, eyed him keenly.
“You and I had words some time ago. I’m sorry for them. Will you forgive me?”
There was no doubt about the genuineness of his contrition.
“Willingly, Mr. Loring,” he said.
Their fingers clasped and their eyes met.
“I underestimated you, Mr. Gallatin,” he went on again slowly. “I don’t often make a mistake in my judgment of men, but I did of you. I’m a self-made man and people will tell you I’m a little proud of the job. But I’m not too proud to tell you that you’ve been a little too clever for me. I know when I’m beaten and I’m not afraid to say so. We’ll fix this thing up. I don’t want all the coal in Pennsylvania. I own sixty per cent. of the Sanborn stock. Sanborn’s crowd owns the rest. I’ll sell out twenty per cent. to some man agreed on and we’ll make him president.”
“At the present market figure, Mr. Loring?” asked Gallatin shrewdly.