to Cowperwood, because he had to be.  He explained to him just how things were regulated at Harrisburg.  The big financiers were looked to for campaign funds.  They were represented by henchmen in the State assembly and senate.  The governor and the treasurer were foot-free; but there were other influences—­prestige, friendship, social power, political ambitions, etc.  The big men might constitute a close corporation, which in itself was unfair; but, after all, they were the legitimate sponsors for big money loans of this kind.  The State had to keep on good terms with them, especially in times like these.  Seeing that Mr. Cowperwood was so well able to dispose of the million he expected to get, it would be perfectly all right to award it to him; but Van Nostrand had a counter-proposition to make.  Would Cowperwood, if the financial crowd now handling the matter so desired, turn over his award to them for a consideration—­a sum equal to what he expected to make—­in the event the award was made to him?  Certain financiers desired this.  It was dangerous to oppose them.  They were perfectly willing he should put in a bid for five million and get the prestige of that; to have him awarded one million and get the prestige of that was well enough also, but they desired to handle the twenty-three million dollars in an unbroken lot.  It looked better.  He need not be advertised as having withdrawn.  They would be content to have him achieve the glory of having done what he started out to do.  Just the same the example was bad.  Others might wish to imitate him.  If it were known in the street privately that he had been coerced, for a consideration, into giving up, others would be deterred from imitating him in the future.  Besides, if he refused, they could cause him trouble.  His loans might be called.  Various banks might not be so friendly in the future.  His constituents might be warned against him in one way or another.

Cowperwood saw the point.  He acquiesced.  It was something to have brought so many high and mighties to their knees.  So they knew of him!  They were quite well aware of him!  Well and good.  He would take the award and twenty thousand or thereabouts and withdraw.  The State treasurer was delighted.  It solved a ticklish proposition for him.

“I’m glad to have seen you,” he said.  “I’m glad we’ve met.  I’ll drop in and talk with you some time when I’m down this way.  We’ll have lunch together.”

The State treasurer, for some odd reason, felt that Mr. Cowperwood was a man who could make him some money.  His eye was so keen; his expression was so alert, and yet so subtle.  He told the governor and some other of his associates about him.

So the award was finally made; Cowperwood, after some private negotiations in which he met the officers of Drexel & Co., was paid his twenty thousand dollars and turned his share of the award over to them.  New faces showed up in his office now from time to time—­among them that of Van Nostrand and one Terrence Relihan, a representative of some other political forces at Harrisburg.  He was introduced to the governor one day at lunch.  His name was mentioned in the papers, and his prestige grew rapidly.