"Now--you understand."

"It is impossible!" gasped Gregson. "I cannot believe this! It--it
might have happened a thousand--two thousand years ago--but not
now. My God, man!" he cried, more excitedly. "You do not mean to
tell me that you believe this will be done?"

"Yes," replied Philip.

"It is impossible!" exclaimed Gregson again, crushing the letter
in his hand. "A man doesn't live--a combination doesn't exist--
that would start such a hell loose as this--in this way!"

Philip smiled grimly.

"The man does live, and the combination does exist," he said,
slowly. "Greggy, I have known of men, and of combinations who have
spent millions, who have sacrificed everything of honor and truth,
who have driven thousands of men, women, and children to
starvation--and worse--to achieve a victory in high finance. I
have known of men and combinations who have broken almost every
law of man and God in the fight for money and power. And so have
you! You have associated with some of these men. You have laughed
and talked with them, smoked with them, and have dined at their
tables. You spent a week at Selden's summer borne, and it was
Selden who cornered wheat three years ago and raised the price of
bread two cents a loaf. It was Selden who brought about the bread
riots in New York, Chicago, and a score of other cities, who swung
wide the prison doors for thousands, whose millions were gained at