Theodore Dreiser - The Stoic

It was this knowledge that made him so gay on his arrival in London. After telephoning to Aileen, he spent the greater part of the day in Bond Street, properly outfitting himself for the summer on the Continent, after which he made his way to Aileen’s hotel. He decided that he would make no pretense of affection at this time. He was to play the role of uncalculating friend, one who liked her for herself and wished to proffer her, without reward, such social opportunities as she could not otherwise achieve.

Following the usual preliminaries of greeting, she began at once with an account of her visit to the estate of Lord Haddonfield.

“Haddonfield . . . oh, yes. I remember him,” said Tollifer. “He was in the United States some years ago. I believe it was either at Newport or Southampton that I ran into him. Quite a gay fellow. Likes clever people.”

The truth was that Tollifer had never met Haddonfield, but knew something of him from hearsay. And immediately he launched into an account of his stay in Paris, and added that here in London he had this day lunched with a certain Lady Lessing, of whose social doings Aileen had read that morning in the newspaper.

Delighted by all of this, Tollifer’s interest in her still seemed unaccountable to Aileen. Plainly, it could not be that he expected any social advantage from her. It must be something he might hope to get from Frank. She was puzzled, but also certain that little enough would come from Cowperwood as a reward for dancing attendance upon her. He was not like that. In consequence, and in spite of her natural suspicions, she was compelled, even though she hesitated, to entertain the thought that Tollifer was really attracted to her as a person.

They dined together at Prince’s that evening, and he entertained her with an intriguing account of the gaieties that might be hers for the asking. He raved about Paris.

“Why can’t you—as long as your husband is so busy—run over?” he suggested. “There are so many interesting things to do, to see, to buy. I’ve never seen Paris more gay.”

“I would like very much to go,” confessed Aileen, “because I really have some shopping to do. But I don’t know whether my husband will be able to go with me or not.”

Tollifer was a little amused at this last remark, but not cruelly so.

“I should think any busy husband might spare his wife a fortnight for shopping in Paris,” he said.

Aileen, now eager to test the resources of this newfound friend, exclaimed: “I’ll tell you what I’ll do! I’ll ask Frank tomorrow, and let you know.”

Dinner was followed by a visit to an informal and regular “Tuesday evening” at the flat of Cecilia Grant, an actress playing in a popular revue, and, incidentally, the mistress of Count Etienne le Bar, a Frenchman of great personal charm and popularity in London. Tollifer knew that a knock at Cecilia’s door would produce a welcome for Aileen and himself. And the group they encountered there—including a bizarre countess, the wife of one of the peers of England—seemed to Aileen indubitably important and convinced her that whatever Tollifer’s motives, his connections were far more important than hers, or even Cowperwood’s. And at once, although she did not then say so, she decided to go to Paris.

Naturally, Greaves and Henshaw lost no time in acquainting Johnson with the details of their negotiations with Cowperwood, for Johnson and Stane, and most of the men connected with the Traffic Electrical Company, were also interested in other London underground lines, and their favor was valuable to Greaves and Henshaw as engineers. They were satisfied that technically as well as ethically they were well within their rights, since, in the first instance, the option was theirs to do with as they chose, and, next, they had not actually agreed to Johnson’s direct request that they give him so many days in which to present a repurchase proposition, but had said they would think it over and let him know. They did not know of Jarkins’ visit to Johnson, who was now a bit curious as to what was bringing them to see him.

For the first few minutes of their narrative, he was inclined to feel that the best part of the possibilities indicated by a proposed meeting with Cowperwood had evaporated. But gradually he was brought to think more favorably of the plan of contact which they suggested. In short, the fact that at one meeting this American was not only ready to pay over £30,000 and assume the interest on £60,000 in consols, but also to agree to deposit £10,000, no portion of which would ever be returned to him unless he began building within a year, was enough to fascinate him. Probably this matter of the Charing Cross was only a detail, and it was true, as Jarkins had insisted, that Cowperwood was interested mainly in the larger phases of underground unification. If so, why not some general scheme which would include himself and Stane before others were taken in? Plainly, it was still important that he and Stane meet Cowperwood. Well, that could probably be arranged at the meeting in Cowperwood’s office which he would attend in connection with the final negotiations concerning the transfer of the Charing Cross line.

Eleven-thirty of the day of the meeting found Cowperwood and Sippens together in Cowperwood’s office, Sippens pacing up and down, making such remarks as he could induce his Chief to give ear to. But Cowperwood himself was curiously thoughtful. He had acted so swiftly, he now reflected, more so than was usual with him. And this was an alien land, its ways and moods almost entirely unfamiliar to him. True, it did not follow that because he was buying the rights, he could not sell again. On the other hand, reason as he would, a kind of fatality appeared to be running through the whole affair. For if now, after buying this option, he allowed it to lapse, it would look like a tentative adventure on his part for which he had neither the courage nor the means.

But now Jarkins and Kloorfain arrived, fully conscious of their part in this, and having been assured by Cowperwood that his own obligation to them would not be overlooked. And immediately following them came Mr. Denton, Sippens, secretary, and Mr. Ostade, one of Sippens’ investigating committee. Later came Mr. Kitteredge, Sippens’ successor to the presidency of Cowperwood’s Chicago Union Traction lines, who was there in order to discuss with Cowperwood some of his Chicago affairs. Lastly, there was Oliver Bristol, a youthful but exceedingly alert member of Cowperwood’s legal department, who had been sent over to inform himself as to current English procedure. He was now ready for his first task. Cowperwood’s principal use for his own people, however, at this time—apart from witnessing the transaction—was to have them serve as color and background for himself, in order to impress these English gentlemen.

At last, and promptly at twelve o’clock, came Messrs. Greaves and Henshaw, accompanied by Johnson, Rider, Calthorpe, and Delafield, of the Traffic Electrical Company; Mr. Calthorpe being its chairman, Mr. Rider its vice-chairman, and Mr. Johnson its solicitor. And all were not a little impressed as, coming at last into the presence of the great man himself, they found him, sitting behind his desk, attended right and left by his lawyer and all of his assistants.

Cowperwood rose and greeted both Greaves and Henshaw very cordially, and they, in turn, with the assistance of Jarkins and Sippens, introduced the members of each group. But it was Johnson who held the attention of both Cowperwood and Sippens, Cowperwood because of his connections and Sippens because on sight he sensed a rival. The authoritativeness of the man, the almost august manner in which he cleared his throat and looked around inquiringly, as if he were a scientist examining insects, infuriated Sippens. And it was Johnson who opened the discussion.