"Let us go straight to the point of this matter," he began, addressing Rogers, who sat between David and the Mayor. "Mr. Jordon tells me you refuse to consider any sum less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the land you control. Is that correct?" "It is." David's shoulder against Rogers told him that Rogers's lean frame was as rigid as the chair that held it. "This then is your ultimatum?" "It is." "Just as I told you," nodded Mr. Jordon, who was at Mr. Chambers's elbow. Mr. Chambers pressed a button beneath the desk and the door opened before his secretary. "Please show in the others," he requested quietly. The secretary bowed and the door closed. "The others?" breathed Rogers; and he and David and the Mayor looked at each other. "The others!" exclaimed Mr. Jordon. "What others?" Mr. Chambers sat silent, with unchanged face. The next instant the door, opening, answered the question. Into the room hesitantly filed the five owners of the land Rogers controlled. Rogers, David, and the Mayor, and also Mr. Jordon, rose in astonishment. The five stopped and stared at Rogers's party; plainly the surprise was mutual. Mr. Chambers, remaining in his seat, motioned the new-comers to the chairs at the left of his desk. "Be seated, gentlemen." "What's this mean?" David asked, catching Rogers's arm. Rogers turned toward him, and for an instant David felt he was gazing into the abyss of fear. Then the arm he held tightened and Rogers looked toward his five clients and nodded. "Good afternoon. I'm glad to see you," he said in an even tone. They sat down again, and Rogers's eyes fastened on the finely wrinkled face of Mr. Chambers--as did every other pair of eyes in the room. They vainly strove to read the purpose behind that inscrutable countenance. The purpose was simple enough. By bringing together the two elements of Rogers's crowd, each ignorant that the other was to be present, unprepared with common replies, he had thought he might possibly play them against each other in a way to bring them to his price; and if not, he would at least have them all together, and so be able to make an immediate settlement upon their terms. He had had a faint hope that Mr. Hawkins might discover something significant, but a note from the detective during the morning had contained no single new fact. Mr. Chambers did not give the surprised group time to readjust itself. "I have called together all parties interested in this transaction in order that we may more effectively reach an agreement, and in the hope that we may obviate the necessity for future meetings."