The Financier, a novel eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 732 pages of information about The Financier, a novel.

The Financier, a novel eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 732 pages of information about The Financier, a novel.
seemed now like flags or ornaments of a better day that was gone.  His only consolation through it all was that Frank had actually got out of his relationship with the Third National Bank without owing it a single dollar.  Still as he knew the directors of that institution could not possibly tolerate the presence of a man whose son had helped loot the city treasury, and whose name was now in the public prints in this connection.  Besides, Cowperwood, Sr., was too old.  He ought to retire.

The crisis for him therefore came on the day when Frank was arrested on the embezzlement charge.  The old man, through Frank, who had it from Steger, knew it was coming, still had the courage to go to the bank but it was like struggling under the weight of a heavy stone to do it.  But before going, and after a sleepless night, he wrote his resignation to Frewen Kasson, the chairman of the board of directors, in order that he should be prepared to hand it to him, at once.  Kasson, a stocky, well-built, magnetic man of fifty, breathed an inward sigh of relief at the sight of it.

“I know it’s hard, Mr. Cowperwood,” he said, sympathetically.  “We—­and I can speak for the other members of the board—­we feel keenly the unfortunate nature of your position.  We know exactly how it is that your son has become involved in this matter.  He is not the only banker who has been involved in the city’s affairs.  By no means.  It is an old system.  We appreciate, all of us, keenly, the services you have rendered this institution during the past thirty-five years.  If there were any possible way in which we could help to tide you over the difficulties at this time, we would be glad to do so, but as a banker yourself you must realize just how impossible that would be.  Everything is in a turmoil.  If things were settled—­if we knew how soon this would blow over—­” He paused, for he felt that he could not go on and say that he or the bank was sorry to be forced to lose Mr. Cowperwood in this way at present.  Mr. Cowperwood himself would have to speak.

During all this Cowperwood, Sr., had been doing his best to pull himself together in order to be able to speak at all.  He had gotten out a large white linen handkerchief and blown his nose, and had straightened himself in his chair, and laid his hands rather peacefully on his desk.  Still he was intensely wrought up.

“I can’t stand this!” he suddenly exclaimed.  “I wish you would leave me alone now.”

Kasson, very carefully dressed and manicured, arose and walked out of the room for a few moments.  He appreciated keenly the intensity of the strain he had just witnessed.  The moment the door was closed Cowperwood put his head in his hands and shook convulsively.  “I never thought I’d come to this,” he muttered.  “I never thought it.”  Then he wiped away his salty hot tears, and went to the window to look out and to think of what else to do from now on.

Chapter XXXV

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Project Gutenberg
The Financier, a novel from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.