Helen was thrilled. Only a woman of ambition could have gone so far already upon the road. This was an opportunity she had foreseen and had been steadily working for. To be in charge of such an undertaking would not only gratify a keen desire; it would be fulfillment almost beyond what she had dared to hope.
She knew that the eyes of Saul Hartz were reading her soul. As far as he was concerned there was hardly such a thing as a secret. And with what uncanny skill he could use his knowledge! The bribe was great. For one of her mental outlook, the refusal of such a bait would be a going-back upon her whole philosophy of life.
“Don’t decide at once.” The whisper, faint though it was, had a curious power. “But keep the door open ... keep the door open, that’s all we ask.”
Helen remained silent. In the presence of this man, immediately under his gaze, within sound of his compelling speech, she was always less than herself. Everybody in the Office felt like that. The most potent members of the staff, and they included heads as hard and brains as “picked” as the world could produce, were seldom able to put up a fight against him. The Colossus dominated all alike.
“You see,” Saul Hartz went on, “it was due to me that you came over to us here. I’ve always felt a personal responsibility in regard to you. From the first I believed in you—we believed in each other. You have not disappointed me; I hope I have not disappointed you. But it will hurt me more than I can say, if for a whim, a mere whim, a day-dream, you throw away a really fine career.”
To doubt his sincerity was impossible. Every word rang true. And Helen Sholto with his spell upon her was bound to react to the emotion this man had the power to excite. At once her mind went back to the many benefits at his hands, the many delicate kindnesses. She could not forget his faith in her; she could not forget how much she owed him.
While he looked at her all that was clear. He wove a very close web. But he was too adroit to draw the mesh too tight. He was careful not to embarrass her by an appeal to her sense of gratitude.
“Of course, this is just a business proposition—a business arrangement.” The sudden release of tension was most welcome to Helen. “A quid pro quo, one might even say. We have been mutually useful to each other.”
“You have been very good to me.” A sense of justice forced her to that simple admission.
“If you really think so,”—he had a wonderful gift for taking instant advantage of every opportunity—“you’ll be in no hurry to turn us down.”