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His words came with sharp nervous energy: "Yes sir?" The financier slowly drew the big cigar from his mouth and spoke in low tones: "A meeting of the Allied Bankers here in 30 minutes. No telephone messages. A personal summons to each. They enter one at a time that no one on the outside sees them come. You understand?" "I understand." Bivens raised his finger in warning. "Your life on the issue."
Handing him a key which he drew from beneath his pillow he cried: "Unlock the right-hand top-drawer of that safe, Jim the door is open. Hand me those bundles of stocks and bonds and ask those doctors to come in here." Stuart complied with his request, and Bivens spread the brilliant coloured papers on the white covering of his bed, while the doctors drew near.
The doctor's voice broke and he paused. And then with the tears streaming down his cheeks unchecked, his accents broken with unrestrained sobs he told the story of his meeting with Bivens, of his abject pleading when he had thrown pride to the winds, of the cruel and brutal taunts, and the last beastly insult when the millionaire boasted of his squandering of millions and rejoiced that he could flaunt this in the face of his suffering and humiliation.
Bivens refused at first to believe the doctor's startling announcement. He hurriedly dressed, came on deck, and for five minutes stood staring into the white, dead faces. Without a word he went below and asked the doctor to call Stuart. When his old friend entered, he took his hand quietly and for once in his life the little, black, piercing eyes were swimming in tears as he spoke.
The fight has ended, and I have fallen across your path to-night, dying of thirst while rivers of water flow about me." Bivens turned away and the doctor pressed closer. "Suppose we have fought each other in the heat of the day in the ranks of two hostile armies? The battle has ceased. For me the night has fallen, I " His voice quivered and broke for an instant. "You have won.
I felt sure that my letters had not reached you. I hoped for the chance of a moment to-night to lay my case before you." Bivens smiled and sat down. "All right, I'll give you five minutes." "I felt sure you had not seen my letters." "I'll ease your mind on that question. I did see them both. You got my answer?" "That's just it. I didn't. And I couldn't understand it." "Oh, I see!"
She laughed at the comical picture his tall figure made in a cook's apron and he made her wear a waitress' cap which he improvised from a Japanese paper napkin. The doctor pronounced the meals better than he had tasted on the trip. Bivens was still in an ugly mood and refused to leave his stateroom or allow any one but the doctor to enter.
He could hear Bivens giving orders to his employees about the removal of his millions to the vaults below. It would take hours to complete the task. He could hear the deep vibrant ring of the gold, as the men dumped it into bags. As he listened to the curious sound he began dimly to realize that the foundation of his life and character were being undermined. There could be no mistake about it.
"Imperative that I see Cal at once in the presence of my friend on a matter of grave importance. Please send him down. He is stubborn." He handed it to the servant and said: "Take that to Mrs. Bivens." Bivens came in a few minutes, shook hands cordially with Stuart and ignored Woodman. "I want to see you alone with the doctor," the young lawyer began, "where we can not possibly be overheard."
Your business methods haven't made much progress beyond this stage, so far as I can see." Bivens stroked his silken beard with a nervous puzzled movement, rose and walked to the window. "Come here, Jim." He gazed for a moment over the city and slowly said: "Look over this sea of buildings rising like waves of the ocean and stretching away until its lines are lost in the clouds.
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