It would help me to close up and realize on these new companies which are entirely sound and needed.

It would help me to prevent the old companies from eating me up.

As a matter of fact, I must have such a franchise to protect my interests and give me a running fighting chance.

Now, I know that none of us are in politics or finance for our health.

If I could get such a franchise it would be worth from one-fourth to one-half of all I personally would make out of it, providing my plan of combining these new companies with the old ones should go through--say, from three to four hundred thousand dollars." (Here again Cowperwood was not quite frank, but safe.) "It is needless to say to you that I can command ample capital.