"Well, Harrington, how do you find matters now that you have had time to look into the situation?" "Very much as I expected to find them," I replied bluntly. "And that is as bad as could be. Something must be done at once, and I have come to you to-day to settle what that shall be." He flushed a little proudly at my words, but I plunged in and sketched the situation to him as it had become familiar to me. At first he was inclined to interrupt and question my statements, but he saw that I had my facts. As I went on, showing him how his big rivals had taken his markets--how his business had fallen so that he could no longer get those special rates he had been too virtuous to accept--he seemed to slink into his chair. It was like an operation; but there was no use in wasting time in pity. His mind must be opened. Toward the end he closed his eyes and looked so weak that once I stopped. But he motioned to me to go on. "And what do you advise?" he asked weakly at the end. "I have already begun to act," I replied with a smile, and outlined what had been done. He shook his head. "That has been tried before. All such combinations have failed. Strauss, or one of the others, will split it up." I did not believe that the combination which I had to propose would be so easily disturbed. In the midst of our argument some one came into the room behind us and paused, listening. I stopped. "What is it, my dear?" Mr. Dround said, looking up. "We are talking business." "Yes," she said slowly. She was in street clothes, with hat, and she began to draw off her gloves slowly. "Shall I disturb you?" "Why, no," he answered indifferently, and I resumed my argument. Mrs. Dround sat down behind the table and opened some letters, busying herself there. But I felt her eyes on my words. Unconsciously I addressed the rest of my argument to her. When I had finished, Mr. Dround leaned back wearily in his seat and sighed:-- "Yours is a very bold plan, Mr. Harrington. It might succeed if we could get the necessary financial support. But, as you know well enough, this is hardly the time to provide money for any venture. The banks would not look favorably upon such a speculative suggestion. We shall have to wait until better times." "We can't wait," I said brusquely. "Bad times or not, we must act." "Well, well, I will think it over. It is time for my medicine, isn't it, Jane?" he said, looking fretfully at his wife. It was a broad hint for me to take myself off, and my wild schemes with me. For a moment I felt disgusted with myself for believing that anything could be accomplished with this failing reed. Mrs. Dround came softly up to her husband's chair and leaned over him. "You are too tired for more business to-day, dear. Come--let me get your medicine."