Strictly Business: More Stories of the Four Million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Strictly Business: More Stories of the Four Million
John Stuart Mill · en
The man Silver knew was named Klein. At three o’clock Klein brought his
Wall Street friend to see us in Silver’s room. “Mr. Morgan” looked some
like his pictures, and he had a Turkish towel wrapped around his left
foot, and he walked with a cane.
“Mr. Silver and Mr. Pescud,” says Klein. “It sounds superfluous,” says
he, “to mention the name of the greatest financial—”
“Cut it out, Klein,” says Mr. Morgan. “I’m glad to know you gents; I
take great interest in the West. Klein tells me you’re from Little
Rock. I think I’ve a railroad or two out there somewhere. If either of
you guys would like to deal a hand or two of stud poker I—”
“Now, Pierpont,” cuts in Klein, “you forget!”
“Excuse me, gents!” says Morgan; “since I’ve had the gout so bad I
sometimes play a social game of cards at my house. Neither of you never
knew One-eyed Peters, did you, while you was around Little Rock? He
lived in Seattle, New Mexico.”
Before we could answer, Mr. Morgan hammers on the floor with his cane
and begins to walk up and down, swearing in a loud tone of voice.
“They have been pounding your stocks to-day on the Street, Pierpont?”
asks Klein, smiling.
“Stocks! No!” roars Mr. Morgan. “It’s that picture I sent an agent to
Europe to buy. I just thought about it. He cabled me to-day that it
ain’t to be found in all Italy. I’d pay $50,000 to-morrow for that
picture—yes, $75,000. I give the agent a la carte in purchasing it. I
cannot understand why the art galleries will allow a De Vinchy to—”
“Why, Mr. Morgan,” says Klein; “I thought you owned all of the De
Vinchy paintings.”
“What is the picture like, Mr. Morgan?” asks Silver. “It must be as big
as the side of the Flatiron Building.”
“I’m afraid your art education is on the bum, Mr. Silver,” says Morgan.
“The picture is 27 inches by 42; and it is called ‘Love’s Idle Hour.’
It represents a number of cloak models doing the two-step on the bank
of a purple river. The cablegram said it might have been brought to
this country. My collection will never be complete without that
picture. Well, so long, gents; us financiers must keep early hours.”
Mr. Morgan and Klein went away together in a cab. Me and Silver talked
about how simple and unsuspecting great people was; and Silver said
what a shame it would be to try to rob a man like Mr. Morgan; and I
said I thought it would be rather imprudent, myself. Klein proposes a
stroll after dinner; and me and him and Silver walks down toward
Seventh Avenue to see the sights. Klein sees a pair of cuff links that
instigate his admiration in a pawnshop window, and we all go in while
he buys ’em.
After we got back to the hotel and Klein had gone, Silver jumps at me
and waves his hands.
“Did you see it?” says he. “Did you see it, Billy?”
“What?” I asks.