He did not care to say what he thought of this as yet.
It was previous to a reception given by the Union League that the first real blow was struck at him personally, and that in a roundabout way.
Addison, talking to him at the Lake National Bank one morning, had said quite confidentially, and out of a clear sky: "I want to tell you something, Cowperwood.

You know by now something about Chicago society.

You also know where I stand in regard to some things you told me about your past when I first met you.

Well, there's a lot of talk going around about you now in regard to all that, and these two clubs to which you and I belong are filled with a lot of two-faced, double-breasted hypocrites who've been stirred up by this talk of conspiracy in the papers.

There are four or five stockholders of the old companies who are members, and they are trying to drive you out.