"I think," he said deliberately, "that I will go and see Mr. F. Mills O'Connor. I will give him just one chance to let up in this campaign of his and restrict his energies to ordinary business competition; and then, if he refuses, I will ask you and the other directors of the Guardian to let me open things up and fight him on his own ground, if it costs us every dollar of prospective profit for the next three years." Mr. Wintermuth's face assumed an expression of manifest concern. "Don't be hasty, Richard," he said quickly; "the fault with all you younger men is that you're apt to go too fast. I myself have confidence in you, you understand, but I don't know that I could promise the support of the directors for any campaign of reprisals. I'm afraid the idea of spending three years' prospective profit wouldn't strike them with any degree of favor." His perturbation was so sincere that Smith turned back in the doorway to reassure him. "Well, don't worry," he said lightly. "Probably my remarks will so abash Mr. O'Connor that he will immediately promise to be good. I guess I'll try it on, anyway." Fresh in his determination, he went straight to the Salamander office, and it was but a moment later that he found himself confronting the man he had come to see. "Mr. Smith, I believe," said O'Connor, neutrally. "Won't you sit down?" "Mr. O'Connor, I feel quite sure," said the other, taking the proffered seat. "Yes. And to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" responded the President of the Salamander, swinging around in his chair to face his visitor. "If I can take up a few minutes of your time, there are quite a number of things I'd like to say, and a few that with your permission I will." O'Connor waved his hand for the desired assent. "Go ahead," he said. "Mr. O'Connor," said Smith, "you owe your position in the fire insurance world to the Guardian of New York more than to any one other influence, and your recent acts seem to show that you've forgotten your obligation. You committed the Guardian to withdrawing from the Eastern Conference, for one thing, and after the company got out, you took advantage of its position to raid its agency plant for the benefit of the Salamander." "That's most of it nonsense--but what if I did?" asked O'Connor, curtly. "I am merely here to ask your personal assurance that from now on you will discontinue your active efforts directed especially against my company." The other man looked at him. "That's cool enough, I'm sure. And what'll you do if I don't grant your surprising request?"