"I see by the papers, if they can be trusted," he said, coming direct to the point, "that you are interesting yourself in local gas.

Is that true ?" "I'm afraid the papers cannot be generally relied on," replied Cowperwood, quite blandly.

"Would you mind telling me what makes you interested to know whether I am or not ?" "Well, to tell the truth," replied Schryhart, staring at the financier, "I am interested in this local gas situation myself.

It offers a rather profitable field for investment, and several members of the old companies have come to me recently to ask me to help them combine." (This was not true at all.) "I have been wondering what chance you thought you had of winning along the lines you are now taking." Cowperwood smiled.

"I hardly care to discuss that," he said, "unless I know much more of your motives and connections than I do at present.
Do I understand that you have really been appealed to by stockholders of the old companies to come in and help adjust this matter ?" "Exactly," said Schryhart.
"And you think you can get them to combine?
On what basis ?" "Oh, I should say it would be a simple matter to give each of them two or three shares of a new company for one in each of the old.