I told him that he
would receive, like the others, an equal amount of common stock for a
bonus. I assured him that we would be able to pay dividends on the common.
And he asked me particularly if I was certain that dividends would be paid
on the common. I gave him that assurance as a financier who knows his
card." Daunt had been attempting to curb his passion and talk in a
business man's tone while on the matter of figures. But he abandoned the
struggle to keep calm. He cracked his knuckles on the table and shouted:
"But do you know--can you imagine what he said after I had twice assured
him as to those dividends on common, replying to his repeated questions?
Can you?"
"No," admitted Corson, having reason to be considerably uncertain in
regard to Stewart Morrison's newly developed notions about affairs in
general.
"He told me I ought to be ashamed of myself--then he pulled out his watch
and apologized for monopolizing me so long on a gay evening, hoped I was
enjoying it, and said he must hurry away and dance with Miss Corson. What
did he mean by saying that I ought to be ashamed of myself? What did he
mean by that gratuitous insult to a man who had made him a generous
proposition in straight business--to a guest under your roof, Senator
Corson?"
"By gad! I'll find out what it means!" snapped the Senator, pricked in his
pride and in his sense of responsibility as a go-between.
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