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orth at least six or eight million。 The social world they moved in was high。
They drove after dinner to The Saddler； at Saddler's Run； where a dance and 〃moonlight promenade〃 was to be given。 On the way over； owing to the remoteness of Berenice； Cowperwood for the first time in his life felt himself to be getting old。 In spite of the vigor of his mind and body； he realized constantly that he was over fifty…two； while she was only seventeen。 Why should this lure of youth continue to possess him？ She wore a white concoction of lace and silk which showed a pair of smooth young shoulders and a slender； queenly； inimitably modeled neck。 He could tell by the sleek lines of her arms how strong she was。
〃It is perhaps too late；〃 he said to himself； in comment。 〃I am getting old。〃
The freshness of the hills in the pale night was sad。
Saddler's； when they reached there after ten； was crowded with the youth and beauty of the vicinity。 Mrs。 Carter； who was prepossessing in a ball costume of silver and old rose； expected that Cowperwood would dance with her。 And he did； but all the time his eyes were on Berenice； who was caught up by one youth and another of dapper mien during the progress of the evening and carried rhythmically by in the mazes of the waltz or schottische。 There was a new dance in vogue that involved a gay； running stepkicking first one foot and then the other forward； turning and running backward and kicking again； and then swinging with a smart air； back to back； with one's partner。 Berenice； in her lithe； rhythmic way； seemed to him the soul of spirited and gracious easeunconscious of everybody and everything save the spirit of the dance itself as a medium of sweet emotion； of some far…off； dreamlike spirit of gaiety。 He wondered。 He was deeply impressed。
〃Berenice；〃 observed Mrs。 Carter； when in an intermission she came forward to where Cowperwood and she were sitting in the moonlight discussing New York and Kentucky social life； 〃haven't you saved one dance for Mr。 Cowperwood？〃
Cowperwood； with a momentary feeling of resentment； protested that he did not care to dance any more。 Mrs。 Carter； he observed to himself； was a fool。
〃I believe；〃 said her daughter； with a languid air； 〃that I am full up。 I could break one engagement； though； somewhere。〃
〃Not for me； though； please；〃 pleaded Cowperwood。 〃I don't care to dance any more； thank you。〃
He almost hated her at the moment for a chilly cat。 And yet he did not。
〃Why； Bevy； how you talk！ I think you are acting very badly this evening。〃
〃Please； please；〃 pleaded Cowperwood； quite sharply。 〃Not any more。 I don't care to dance any more。〃
Bevy looked at him oddly for a momenta single thoughtful glance。
〃But I have a dance； though；〃 she pleaded； softly。 〃I was just teasing。 Won't you dance it with me？
〃I can't refuse； of course；〃 replied Cowperwood； coldly。
〃It's the next one；〃 she replied。
They danced； but he scarcely softened to her at first； so angry was he。 Somehow； because of all that had gone before； he felt stiff and ungainly。 She had managed to break in upon his natural savoir fairethis chit of a girl。 But as they went on through a second half the spirit of her dancing soul caught him； and he felt more at ease； quite rhythmic。 She drew close and swept him into a strange unison with herself。
〃You dance beautifully；〃 he said。
〃I love it；〃 she replied。 She was already of an agreeable height for him。
It was soon over。 〃I wish you would take me where the ices are；〃 she said to Cowperwood。
He led her； half amused； half disturbed at her attitude toward him。
〃You are having a pleasant time teasing me； aren't you？〃 he asked。
〃I am only tired；〃 she replied。 〃The evening bores me。 Really it does。 I wish we were all home。〃
〃We can go when you say； no doubt。〃
As they reached the ices； and she took one from his hand； she surveyed him with those cool； dull blue eyes of herseyes that had the flat quality of unglazed Dutch tiles。
〃I wish you would forgive me；〃 she said。 〃I was rude。 I couldn't help it。 I am all out of sorts with myself。〃
〃I hadn't felt you were rude；〃 he observed； lying grandly； his mood toward her changing entirely。
〃Oh yes I was； and I hope you will forgive me。 I sincerely wish you would。〃
〃I do with all my heartthe little that there is to forgive。〃
He waited to take her back； and yielded her to a youth who was waiting。 He watched her trip away in a dance； and eventually led her mother to the trap。 Berenice was not with them on the home drive； some one else was bringing her。 Cowperwood wondered when she would come； and where was her room； and whether she was really sorry；and As he fell asleep Berenice Fleming and her slate…blue eyes were filling his mind completely。
Chapter XLIII
The Planet Mars
The banking hostility to Cowperwood； which in its beginning had made necessary his trip to Kentucky and elsewhere； finally reached a climax。 It followed an attempt on his part to furnish funds for the building of elevated roads。 The hour for this new form of transit convenience had struck。 The public demanded it。 Cowperwood saw one elevated road； the South Side Alley Line； being built； and another； the West Side Metropolitan Line； being proposed； largely； as he knew； in order to create sentiment for the idea； and so to make his opposition to a general franchise difficult。 He was well aware that if he did not choose to build them others would。 It mattered little that electricity had arrived finally as a perfected traction factor； and that all his lines would soon have to be done over to meet that condition； or that it was costing him thousands and thousands to stay the threatening aspect of things politically。 In addition he must now plunge into this new realm； gaining franchises by the roughest and subtlest forms of political bribery。 The most serious aspect of this was not political； but rather financial。 Elevated roads in Chicago； owing to the sparseness of the population over large areas； were a serious thing to contemplate。 The mere cost of iron； right of way； rolling…stock； and power…plants was immense。 Being chronically opposed to investing his private funds where stocks could just as well be unloaded on the public； and the management and control retained by him； Cowperwood； for the time being； was puzzled as to where he should get credit for the millions to be laid down in structural steel； engineering fees； labor； and equipment before ever a dollar could be taken out in passenger fares。 Owing to the advent of the World's Fair； the South Side 'L'to which； in order to have peace and quiet； he had finally conceded a franchisewas doing reasonably well。 Yet it was not making any such return on the investment as the New York roads。 The new lines which he was preparing would traverse even less populous sections of the city； and would in all likelihood yield even a smaller return。 Money had to be forthcomingsomething between twelve and fifteen million dollarsand this on the stocks and bonds of a purely paper corporation which might not yield paying dividends for years to come。 Addison； finding that the Chicago Trust Company was already heavily loaded； called upon various minor but prosperous local banks to take over the new securities （each in part； of course）。 He was astonished and chagrined to find that one and all uniformly refused。
〃I'll tell you how it is； Judah；〃 one bank president confided to him； in great secrecy。 〃We owe Timothy Arneel at least three hundred thousand dollars that we only have to pay three per cent。 for。 It's a call…loan。 Besides； the Lake National is our main standby when it comes to quick trades； and he's in on that。 I understand from one or two friends that he's at outs with Cowperwood； and we can't afford to offend him。 I'd like to； but no more for menot at present； anyhow。〃
〃Why； Simmons；〃 replied Addison； 〃these fellows are simply cutting off their noses to spite their faces。 These stock and bond issues are perfectly good investments； and no one knows it better than you do。 All this hue and cry in the newspapers against Cowperwood doesn't amount to anything。 He's perfectly solvent。 Chicago is growing。 His lines are becoming more valuable every year。〃
〃I know that；〃 replied Simmons。 〃But what about this talk of a rival elevated system？ Won't that injure his lines for the time being； anyhow； if it comes into the field？〃
〃If I know anything about Cowperwood；〃 replied Addison； simply； 〃there isn't going to be any rival elevated road。 It's true they got the city council to give them a franchise for one line on the South Side； but that's out of his territory； anyhow； and that other one to the Chicago General Company doesn't amount to anything。 It will be years and years before it can be made to pay a dollar； and when the time comes he will probably take it over if he wants it。 Another election will be held in two years； and then the city administration may not be so unfavorable。 As it is； they haven't been able to hurt him through the council as much as they thought they would。〃
〃Yes； but he lost the election。〃
〃True； but it doesn't follow he's going to lose the next one； or ev