Then followed a full three-quarters of an hour, during which the visitor discoursed in his very best style and his caller sat spellbound, making occasional hieroglyphic hen tracks upon his note paper and congratulating himself upon his good luck in striking a man like this in one of his rare, talkative moods.

Gray had set himself deliberately to the task of selling himself to this gentleman of the press, and, having succeeded, he was enough of a salesman to avoid the fatal error of overselling.
Alone at last, a sardonic grin crept over his features.

So far, so good.

Now for the rest of those bankers and the mayor.

Gray was working rapidly, but he knew no other way of working, and speed was essential.
It seemed to him not unlikely that delay of the slightest might force him to turn in desperation to a length of lead pipe and a mask, for--a man must live.