The Titan | Page 7

intimates, whom he
controlled spiritually, and did as he pleased.
"Why, I'll tell you, Mr. Cowperwood," Addison replied. "We people
out here in Chicago think so well of ourselves that sometimes we're
afraid to say all we think for fear of appearing a little extravagant.
We're like the youngest son in the family that knows he can lick all the
others, but doesn't want to do it--not just yet. We're not as handsome as
we might be--did you ever see a growing boy that was?--but we're
absolutely sure that we're going to be. Our pants and shoes and coat and
hat get too small for us every six months, and so we don't look very
fashionable, but there are big, strong, hard muscles and bones
underneath, Mr. Cowperwood, as you'll discover when you get to
looking around. Then you won't mind the clothes so much."
Mr. Addison's round, frank eyes narrowed and hardened for a moment.
A kind of metallic hardness came into his voice. Cowperwood could
see that he was honestly enamoured of his adopted city. Chicago was
his most beloved mistress. A moment later the flesh about his eyes
crinkled, his mouth softened, and he smiled. "I'll be glad to tell you
anything I can," he went on. "There are a lot of interesting things to
tell."
Cowperwood beamed back on him encouragingly. He inquired after the
condition of one industry and another, one trade or profession and
another. This was somewhat different from the atmosphere which
prevailed in Philadelphia--more breezy and generous. The tendency to
expatiate and make much of local advantages was Western. He liked it,
however, as one aspect of life, whether he chose to share in it or not. It
was favorable to his own future. He had a prison record to live down; a
wife and two children to get rid of--in the legal sense, at least (he had
no desire to rid himself of financial obligation toward them). It would
take some such loose, enthusiastic Western attitude to forgive in him
the strength and freedom with which he ignored and refused to accept
for himself current convention. "I satisfy myself" was his private law,

but so to do he must assuage and control the prejudices of other men.
He felt that this banker, while not putty in his hands, was inclined to a
strong and useful friendship.
"My impressions of the city are entirely favorable, Mr. Addison," he
said, after a time, though he inwardly admitted to himself that this was
not entirely true; he was not sure whether he could bring himself
ultimately to live in so excavated and scaffolded a world as this or not.
"I only saw a portion of it coming in on the train. I like the snap of
things. I believe Chicago has a future."
"You came over the Fort Wayne, I presume," replied Addison, loftily.
"You saw the worst section. You must let me show you some of the
best parts. By the way, where are you staying?"
"At the Grand Pacific."
"How long will you be here?"
"Not more than a day or two."
"Let me see," and Mr. Addison drew out his watch. "I suppose you
wouldn't mind meeting a few of our leading men--and we have a little
luncheon-room over at the Union League Club where we drop in now
and then. If you'd care to do so, I'd like to have you come along with
me at one. We're sure to find a few of them--some of our lawyers,
business men, and judges."
"That will be fine," said the Philadelphian, simply. "You're more than
generous. There are one or two other people I want to meet in between,
and"--he arose and looked at his own watch--"I'll find the Union Club.
Where is the office of Arneel & Co.?"
At the mention of the great beef-packer, who was one of the bank's
heaviest depositors, Addison stirred slightly with approval. This young
man, at least eight years his junior, looked to him like a future grand
seigneur of finance.

At the Union Club, at this noontime luncheon, after talking with the
portly, conservative, aggressive Arneel and the shrewd director of the
stock-exchange, Cowperwood met a varied company of men ranging in
age from thirty-five to sixty-five gathered about the board in a private
dining-room of heavily carved black walnut, with pictures of elder
citizens of Chicago on the walls and an attempt at artistry in stained
glass in the windows. There were short and long men, lean and stout,
dark and blond men, with eyes and jaws which varied from those of the
tiger, lynx, and bear to those of the fox, the tolerant mastiff, and the
surly bulldog. There were no weaklings in this selected company.
Mr. Arneel and Mr. Addison Cowperwood approved of