The Die is Cast The significance of this visit was not long in manifesting itself.

At the top, in large affairs, life goes off into almost inexplicable tangles of personalities.

Mr.McKenty, now that the matter had been called to his attention, was interested to learn about this gas situation from all sides--whether it might not be more profitable to deal with the Schryhart end of the argument, and so on.

But his eventual conclusion was that Cowperwood's plan, as he had outlined it, was the most feasible for political purposes, largely because the Schryhart faction, not being in a position where they needed to ask the city council for anything at present, were so obtuse as to forget to make overtures of any kind to the bucaneering forces at the City Hall.
When Cowperwood next came to McKenty's house the latter was in a receptive frame of mind.

"Well," he said, after a few genial preliminary remarks, "I've been learning what's going on.