The sob returned to Forbes’s throat. "Yes, I did," he said; "and it was the most humiliating experience of my career. When I thought of the firm of R. H. Forbes & Son begging credit, I could hardly bear it. But I went to the Lexington National." "They turned you down?" "They listened very politely and said they would consider the proposition." "Well, then," said Luke, "you’re crossing a bridge before you come to it." "No, I am not; for presently they sent over a messenger with a note that was no more than an insulting refusal." "You gave up then?" "No, I tried again. I tried Clement & Co." Forbes seemed unable to conclude. "And they?" urged Luke. "They wouldn’t consider it for a moment, Huber." Luke did not like to look at Forbes’s suffering, but he had to hear the end. "Well?" he said. Forbes flung out his hands. "What more could I do?" he demanded. "If it became known that the firm was going begging—yes, begging—from bank to bank, what would happen to our credit? I didn’t dare to go anywhere else. I—Huber, I went back to Osserman and asked him for time." Luke sat down. He picked up a paper and made a transparent pretense of glancing at it. "Did he give you time?" "He said he’d give me a week." "A whole week?" Luke tried to appear encouraged. "That’s six good working days. You can get the money together in that time." "Huber"—Forbes came over to Luke and stood above the newspaper—"I’ve told you what it would do to our credit to try. But I’ve come to the conclusion that we could not get this money from any bank in America." "What do you mean? Not if we have security?" "Not if we could offer the Metropolitan Life Building for security. Not from any bank in America." Luke put down the paper. "But that——" He stopped a moment, and then went on: "But there’s only one group of men in the country that could put up such a wall." "That," said Forbes simply, "is the group I mean." Luke’s eyes were veiled. He rose and walked across the room. Presently, over his shoulder, he inquired sharply: "What makes you think this?" Forbes was frank: "I don’t know. I can’t tell you. A hundred little things. But I am sure." "I thought you said something about a clothing trust." "I did. It was the same crowd. Now they have some additional reason. Oh, I couldn’t doubt it. It was behind every word Osserman said. It was standing back of his words, but it was on tiptoe, looking over them." Luke turned and came up to Forbes. He was quite calm again. "I know what you want me to do," he said. "Yes," said Forbes: it was his way of saying: "You have read my meaning, and I will stand by it." "Well, I can’t do it." Luke spoke quietly. It hurt him to have to say this thing. "I was afraid that was the way you’d take it," said Forbes. "How else could I take it?" "You know what it means to me, Huber?"