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pondered over the situation a good deal。 The thing to do； he thought； if he went to Mollenhauer or Simpson； or both （he had never met either of them； but in view of Butler's desertion they were his only recourse）； was to say that； although he could not at present return the five hundred thousand dollars； if no action were taken against him now； which would prevent his resuming his business on a normal scale a little later； he would pledge his word that every dollar of the involved five hundred thousand dollars would eventually be returned to the treasury。 If they refused； and injury was done him； he proposed to let them wait until he was 〃good and ready；〃 which in all probability would be never。 But； really； it was not quite clear how action against him was to be preventedeven by them。 The money was down on his books as owing the city treasury； and it was down on the city treasury's books as owing from him。 Besides； there was a local organization known as the Citizens' Municipal Reform Association which occasionally conducted investigations in connection with public affairs。 His defalcation would be sure to come to the ears of this body and a public investigation might well follow。 Various private individuals knew of it already。 His creditors； for instance； who were now examining his books。
This matter of seeing Mollenhauer or Simpson； or both； was important； anyhow； he thought； but before doing so he decided to talk it all over with Harper Steger。 So several days after he had closed his doors； he sent for Steger and told him all about the transaction； except that he did not make it clear that he had not intended to put the certificates in the sinking…fund unless he survived quite comfortably。
Harper Steger was a tall； thin； graceful； rather elegant man； of gentle voice and perfect manners； who walked always as though he were a cat； and a dog were prowling somewhere in the offing。 He had a longish； thin face of a type that is rather attractive to women。 His eyes were blue； his hair brown； with a suggestion of sandy red in it。 He had a steady； inscrutable gaze which sometimes came to you over a thin； delicate hand； which he laid meditatively over his mouth。 He was cruel to the limit of the word； not aggressively but indifferently； for he had no faith in anything。 He was not poor。 He had not even been born poor。 He was just innately subtle； with the rather constructive thought； which was about the only thing that compelled him to work； that he ought to be richer than he wasmore conspicuous。 Cowperwood was an excellent avenue toward legal prosperity。 Besides； he was a fascinating customer。 Of all his clients； Steger admired Cowperwood most。
〃Let them proceed against you；〃 he said on this occasion； his brilliant legal mind taking in all the phases of the situation at once。 〃I don't see that there is anything more here than a technical charge。 If it ever came to anything like that； which I don't think it will； the charge would be embezzlement or perhaps larceny as bailee。 In this instance； you were the bailee。 And the only way out of that would be to swear that you had received the check with Stener's knowledge and consent。 Then it would only be a technical charge of irresponsibility on your part； as I see it； and I don't believe any jury would convict you on the evidence of how this relationship was conducted。 Still； it might； you never can tell what a jury is going to do。 All this would have to come out at a trial； however。 The whole thing； it seems to me； would depend on which of you twoyourself or Stenerthe jury would be inclined to believe； and on how anxious this city crowd is to find a scapegoat for Stener。 This coming election is the rub。 If this panic had come at any other time〃
Cowperwood waved for silence。 He knew all about that。 〃It all depends on what the politicians decide to do。 I'm doubtful。 The situation is too complicated。 It can't be hushed up。〃 They were in his private office at his house。 〃What will be will be；〃 he added。
〃What would that mean； Harper； legally； if I were tried on a charge of larceny as bailee； as you put it； and convicted？ How many years in the penitentiary at the outside？〃
Steger thought a minute； rubbing his chin with his hand。 〃Let me see；〃 he said； 〃that is a serious question； isn't it？ The law says one to five years at the outside； but the sentences usually average from one to three years in embezzlement cases。 Of course； in this case〃
〃I know all about that；〃 interrupted Cowperwood； irritably。 〃My case isn't any different from the others； and you know it。 Embezzlement is embezzlement if the politicians want to have it so。〃 He fell to thinking； and Steger got up and strolled about leisurely。 He was thinking also。
〃And would I have to go to jail at any time during the proceedings before a final adjustment of the case by the higher courts？〃 Cowperwood added； directly； grimly； after a time。
〃Yes； there is one point in all legal procedure of the kind；〃 replied Steger； cautiously； now rubbing his ear and trying to put the matter as delicately as possible。 〃You can avoid jail sentences all through the earlier parts of a case like this； but if you are once tried and convicted it's pretty hard to do anythingas a matter of fact； it becomes absolutely necessary then to go to jail for a few days； five or so； pending the motion for a new trial and the obtaining of a certificate of reasonable doubt。 It usually takes that long。〃
The young banker sat there staring out of the window； and Steger observed； 〃It is a bit complicated； isn't it？〃
〃Well； I should say so；〃 returned Frank； and he added to himself： 〃Jail！ Five days in prison！〃 That would be a terrific slap； all things considered。 Five days in jail pending the obtaining of a certificate of reasonable doubt； if one could be obtained！ He must avoid this！ Jail！ The penitentiary！ His commercial reputation would never survive that。
Chapter XXXII
The necessity of a final conferencee between Butler； Mollenhauer； and Simpson was speedily reached； for this situation was hourly growing more serious。 Rumors were floating about in Third Street that in addition to having failed for so large an amount as to have further unsettled the already panicky financial situation induced by the Chicago fire； Cowperwood and Stener； or Stener working with Cowperwood； or the other way round； had involved the city treasury to the extent of five hundred thousand dollars。 And the question was how was the matter to be kept quiet until after election； which was still three weeks away。 Bankers and brokers were communicating odd rumors to each other about a check that had been taken from the city treasury after Cowperwood knew he was to fail； and without Stener's consent。 Also that there was danger that it would come to the ears of that very uncomfortable political organization known as the Citizens' Municipal Reform Association； of which a well…known iron…manufacturer of great probity and moral rectitude； one Skelton C。 Wheat； was president。 Wheat had for years been following on the trail of the dominant Republican administration in a vain attempt to bring it to a sense of some of its political iniquities。 He was a serious and austere man…one of those solemn； self…righteous souls who see life through a peculiar veil of duty； and who； undisturbed by notable animal passions of any kind； go their way of upholding the theory of the Ten Commandments over the order of things as they are。
The committee in question had originally been organized to protest against some abuses in the tax department； but since then； from election to election； it had been drifting from one subject to another； finding an occasional evidence of its worthwhileness in some newspaper comment and the frightened reformation of some minor political official who ended； usually； by taking refuge behind the skirts of some higher political powerin the last reaches； Messrs。 Butler； Mollenhauer； and Simpson。 Just now it was without important fuel or ammunition； and this assignment of Cowperwood； with its attendant crime； so far as the city treasury was concerned； threatened； as some politicians and bankers saw it； to give it just the club it was looking for。
However； the decisive conference took place between Cowperwood and the reigning political powers some five days after Cowperwood's failure； at the home of Senator Simpson； which was located in Rittenhouse Squarea region central for the older order of wealth in Philadelphia。 Simpson was a man of no little refinement artistically； of Quaker extraction； and of great wealth…breeding judgment which he used largely to satisfy his craving for political predominance。 He was most liberal where money would bring him a powerful or necessary political adherent。 He fairly showered officescommissionerships； trusteeships； judgeships； political nominations； and executive positions generallyon those who did his bidding faithfully and without question。 Compared with Butler and Mollenhauer he was more powerful than either； for he represented the State and the nation。 When the political authorities who were trying to swing a national election were anxious to discover what the State of Pennsyl