Panic prevailed; three brokerage firms fell, a dozen more were rocking on their foundations.
In the midst of the hubbub, Senator Hanway sent for Richard.

Our statesman's smile was bland, his brow untroubled.
"You see I do not forget," said Senator Hanway sweetly.

"I promised that I'd give you an exclusive story when the committee on Northern Consolidated was ready to report.

Here is the report, it was finished last evening; I have added a brief interview to explain it." Richard's impulse was to ask a dozen questions; he restrained himself and asked none.

Richard was not so fond of fiction as to invite it.