CHAPTER V
A TRUMP CARD
The stirring scenes of Virginia brought Stuart more and more into intimate personal relations with Bivens and he had taken advantage of the fact to draw away from his wife. The fierce temptation through which he had fought had left its scar, sobered his imagination, and brought him up sharply against the realization of danger. He had ceased to see Nan alone. Bivens's increasing devotion had made this easy and on Harriet's return from Europe with an engagement as understudy in grand opera his life settled down once more to the steady development of his ideal of service to the common people.
Scarcely a day passed without bringing to the young lawyer some reminder of Bivens's friendship. Two great lawsuits involving the principles on which the structure of the modern business world rested were begun in the Federal courts. At the financier's secret suggestion the more important of these was placed in Stuart's hands. Bivens hoped to beat the Government in this suit, but in case the people should win he wanted the personal satisfaction of knowing that he had helped to make the fame of his best friend.
Stuart could scarcely credit his ears when Bivens said to him with a chuckle:
"How's your big suit to dissolve the American Chemical Company coming on, Jim?"
"We're going to win, beyond the shadow of a doubt!" was the enthusiastic reply.
"If you do, I want you to know, old boy, that I threw that job into your hands."
"What?"
"I caused the proper man to suggest your name at the right moment, to the right people."