Droom called a cab and the two drove over to the Wells Street
rooms, Graydon relinquishing himself completely to the will of the
old man. During the supper, which Droom prepared with elaborate
care, and far into the night, the young man sat and listened
without interest to the garrulous talk of his host, who explained
the mechanism and purpose of two models.

One was in the nature of a guillotine by which a person could chop
his own head off neatly without chance of failure, and the other
had to do with the improvement of science in respect to shoelaces.






CHAPTER XXX

THE DRINK OF GALL





Mr. Clegg was not long in convincing Graydon that his proposition
to him was sincere and not the outgrowth of sentiment. A dozen men
in the office greeted Graydon with a warmth that had an uplifting
effect. He went away with a heart lighter than he had once imagined
it could ever be again. In two weeks he was to be in absolute
control of the New York branch; he assured the firm that his physical