"Go ahead," he said.
"Mr. O'Connor," said Smith, "you owe your position in the fire insurance world to the Guardian of New York more than to any one other influence, and your recent acts seem to show that you've forgotten your obligation. You committed the Guardian to withdrawing from the Eastern Conference, for one thing, and after the company got out, you took advantage of its position to raid its agency plant for the benefit of the Salamander."
"That's most of it nonsense—but what if I did?" asked O'Connor, curtly.
"I am merely here to ask your personal assurance that from now on you will discontinue your active efforts directed especially against my company."
The other man looked at him.
"That's cool enough, I'm sure. And what'll you do if I don't grant your surprising request?"
"If you do not, the Guardian will be obliged to take such steps to meet you as seem advisable. So far we've been entirely on the defensive; but we are going to protect our interests, and if the best way to protect them necessitates a complete change of tactics from the defensive to the aggressive, we shall make that change. And if we do, I give you warning that we can make things unpleasantly interesting for you and your company."
O'Connor laughed, toying with a pencil.
"We don't want to be forced to attack you," Smith continued, "and I admit we would far rather not; but I warn you that if we are unfairly injured, the man responsible will be held personally liable. You understand what 'personally liable' means, don't you?"
The President of the Salamander did not reply for a moment, but Smith saw a flush come into his face when he answered.