And he knew, too, that Mr. Frederick Hathorn’s office boasted no longer the “inside tip” on Sugar from the woman who was carrying a social war “into Africa” and had already staggered even the audacious Mrs. Alida. The checks of the new firm on the “Chemical Bank” were already recognized as those of people “who could swing the Street,” and some daring “deals” had opened the game. It was Vreeland’s duty to confer once daily with his strangely-found benefactress, and yet, he felt even now that he was but half within the door. But one bitter hatred followed his rising star, and he soon heard the sneer of Frederick Hathorn: “So he lied to me, and has sneaked into business behind a woman’s petticoats. “Wait! Set a beggar on horseback—he will ride to the devil.” For all that, “they never spoke as they passed by.” The war was now on in earnest. CHAPTER V. TOWARD THE ZENITH. It had been the one haunting dream of Harold Vreeland’s fevered young manhood to finally reach a financial position wherein “the solid ground” would not fail beneath his feet. Before the Christmas snows had whitened the roofs of old Trinity his star was crawling surely toward its zenith. He was, figuratively speaking, “on velvet.” Though he realized the cogent truth of Jimmy Potter’s maxim that the desire of one’s heart would always finally come around to the patient man, he was yet filled with a vague uneasiness. He was entrenched at the Waldorf _en permanence_, and his personal bank account had reached the snug sum of twenty thousand dollars. The status which he held in the firm was that of the office partner, and he was also authorized to draw one thousand dollars per month. “If you need anything else, apply to me directly,” was Mrs. Willoughby’s quiet order. Anxious not to show even the faintest eagerness, he was passively contented, allowing his patroness to make the game. And yet he always watched her, lynx-eyed. “My duties,” he had simply demanded. “You are for the present to confer alone with Mr. Wyman,” answered Elaine. “The books and cash will be in the sole keeping of young Noel Endicott. I may say that he alone will sign the firm’s checks and the balance sheets will be privately rendered by him to Judge Endicott, who represents me, as well as the power behind your new associate, Mr. Wyman. “You are to carry on the current business in agreement with Wyman. Both of you will have access to all the customers’ ledgers, but the conditions of your continuance as a broker is that only a strictly ‘commission business’ shall be carried on. And, above all things, silence and discretion.” “In other words,” slowly said Vreeland, “Judge Endicott is really the responsible holder of the firm’s assets.” “Precisely so,” smiled Elaine. “His only nephew is the cashier and the head bookkeeper has been named by the other principal.” “Am I to confer as to details with Judge Endicott?” was Vreeland’s last query.