Vreeland bowed in silence.
“Then,” she said, fixing her sparkling eyes upon him, “I will make you a confession. I had decided to withdraw gradually my entire business from their firm. In fact, I have been already secretly operating through a trusted friend on the outside.
“You must find a good man, one acceptable to Hiram Endicott.
“I will set you up, and Hathorn & Potter shall soon find a rival. I will carry the war into the enemy’s camp. So be on your guard. Hathorn must never know!
“It is the only punishment for his abandonment at the first hostile signal from his enraged wife. I have made him on the Street! I can unmake him!” Her voice had the ring of a singing bugle calling to arms.
“But, I have no money,” the crafty Judas faltered.
“Leave that to me,” laughingly said Elaine. “You are now my own knight. Here are your colors.”
She handed him a knot of ribbon blue. “Come to me next week. Meet him frankly and decline all connection. Senator Alynton will be here then.”
And she smiled and pressed a rosy finger to her lips.
“The Sugar magnate!” whispered the happy Vreeland, as he stood spellbound, while his goddess fled up the stair, leaving him there alone.