The certificates of loan were purchased before his order arrived, and the records of the exchange will prove it.
There is no illegality here.
I am entitled to that check and could have collected it in any qualified court of law.
The man has gone out of his head.
I haven't failed yet.
You are not in any danger of any legal proceedings; and if you are, I'll help defend you.
I can't give you the check back because I haven't it to give; and if I had, I wouldn't.
That would be allowing a fool to make a fool of me.
I'm sorry, very, but I can't do anything for you."
"Oh, Mr. Cowperwood!"
Tears were in Stires's eyes.
"He'll discharge me!
He'll forfeit my sureties.
I'll be turned out into the street.
I have only a little property of my own—outside of my salary!"
He wrung his hands, and Cowperwood shook his head sadly.
"This isn't as bad as you think, Albert.
He won't do what he says.
He can't.
It's unfair and illegal.
You can bring suit and recover your salary.
I'll help you in that as much as I'm able.
But I can't give you back this sixty-thousand-dollar check, because I haven't it to give.
I couldn't if I wanted to.
It isn't here any more.
I've paid for the securities I bought with it.
The securities are not here.
They're in the sinking-fund, or will be."
He paused, wishing he had not mentioned that fact.
It was a slip of the tongue, one of the few he ever made, due to the peculiar pressure of the situation.
Stires pleaded longer. It was no use, Cowperwood told him.
Finally he went away, crestfallen, fearsome, broken.
There were tears of suffering in his eyes.
Cowperwood was very sorry.
And then his father was announced.
The elder Cowperwood brought a haggard face.
He and Frank had had a long conversation the evening before, lasting until early morning, but it had not been productive of much save uncertainty.
"Hello, father!" exclaimed Cowperwood, cheerfully, noting his father's gloom.
He was satisfied that there was scarcely a coal of hope to be raked out of these ashes of despair, but there was no use admitting it.
"Well?" said his father, lifting his sad eyes in a peculiar way.
"Well, it looks like stormy weather, doesn't it?
I've decided to call a meeting of my creditors, father, and ask for time.
There isn't anything else to do.
I can't realize enough on anything to make it worth while talking about.
I thought Stener might change his mind, but he's worse rather than better.
His head bookkeeper just went out of here."
"What did he want?" asked Henry Cowperwood.
"He wanted me to give him back a check for sixty thousand that he paid me for some city loan I bought yesterday morning."
Frank did not explain to his father, however, that he had hypothecated the certificates this check had paid for, and used the check itself to raise money enough to pay the Girard National Bank and to give himself thirty-five thousand in cash besides.
"Well, I declare!" replied the old man.