He was wondering, in view of what Butler had told him, just how much he could advantage himself in this situation.  If he could, he wanted to get control of whatever street-railway stock Stener now had, without in any way compromising himself.  Stener’s shares could easily be transferred on ’change through Mollenhauer’s brokers to a dummy, who would eventually transfer them to himself (Mollenhauer).  Stener must be squeezed thoroughly, though, this afternoon, and as for his five hundred thousand dollars’ indebtedness to the treasury, Mollenhauer did not see what could be done about that.  If Cowperwood could not pay it, the city would have to lose it; but the scandal must be hushed up until after election.  Stener, unless the various party leaders had more generosity than Mollenhauer imagined, would have to suffer exposure, arrest, trial, confiscation of his property, and possibly sentence to the penitentiary, though this might easily be commuted by the governor, once public excitement died down.  He did not trouble to think whether Cowperwood was criminally involved or not.  A hundred to one he was not.  Trust a shrewd man like that to take care of himself.  But if there was any way to shoulder the blame on to Cowperwood, and so clear the treasurer and the skirts of the party, he would not object to that.  He wanted to hear the full story of Stener’s relations with the broker first.  Meanwhile, the thing to do was to seize what Stener had to yield.

The troubled city treasurer, on being shown in Mr. Mollenhauer’s presence, at once sank feebly in a chair and collapsed.  He was entirely done for mentally.  His nerve was gone, his courage exhausted like a breath.

“Well, Mr. Stener?” queried Mr. Mollenhauer, impressively, pretending not to know what brought him.

“I came about this matter of my loans to Mr. Cowperwood.”

“Well, what about them?”

“Well, he owes me, or the city treasury rather, five hundred thousand dollars, and I understand that he is going to fail and that he can’t pay it back.”

“Who told you that?”

“Mr. Sengstack, and since then Mr. Cowperwood has been to see me.  He tells me he must have more money or he will fail and he wants to borrow three hundred thousand dollars more.  He says he must have it.”

“So!” said Mr. Mollenhauer, impressively, and with an air of astonishment which he did not feel.  “You would not think of doing that, of course.  You’re too badly involved as it is.  If he wants to know why, refer him to me.  Don’t advance him another dollar.  If you do, and this case comes to trial, no court would have any mercy on you.  It’s going to be difficult enough to do anything for you as it is.  However, if you don’t advance him any more—­we will see.  It may be possible, I can’t say, but at any rate, no more money must leave the treasury to bolster up this bad business.  It’s much too difficult as it now is.”  He stared at Stener warningly.  And he, shaken and sick, yet because of the faint suggestion of mercy involved somewhere in Mollenhauer’s remarks, now slipped from his chair to his knees and folded his hands in the uplifted attitude of a devotee before a sacred image.