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ho did not now receive her。 However； in the drawing…rooms where she still appearedand what were they but marriage markets？one or two affairs did spring up tentative approachments on the part of scions of wealth。 They were destined to prove abortive。 One of these youths； Pedro Ricer Marcado； a Brazilian； educated at Oxford； promised much for sincerity and feeling until he learned that Berenice was poor in her own right and what else？ Some one had whispered something in his ear。 Again there was a certain William Drake Bowdoin； the son of a famous old family； who lived on the north side of Washington Square。 After a ball； a morning musicale； and one other affair at which they met Bowdoin took Berenice to see his mother and sister； who were charmed。 〃Oh； you serene divinity！〃 he said to her； ecstatically； one day。 〃Won't you marry me？〃 Bevy looked at him and wondered。 〃Let us wait just a little longer； my dear；〃 she counseled。 〃I want you to be sure that you really love me。 Shortly thereafter； meeting an old classmate at a club； Bowdoin was greeted as follows：
〃Look here； Bowdoin。 You're a friend of mine。 I see you with that Miss Fleming。 Now； I don't know how far things have gone； and I don't want to intrude； but are you sure you are aware of all the aspects of the case？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 demanded Bowdoin。 〃I want you to speak out。〃
〃Oh； pardon； old man。 No offense； really。 You know me。 I couldn't。 Collegeand all that。 Just this； though； before you go any further。 Inquire about。 You may hear things。 If they're true you ought to know。 If not； the talking ought to stop。 If I'm wrong call on me for amends。 I hear talk； I tell you。 Best intentions in the world； old man。 I do assure you。〃
More inquiries。 The tongues of jealousy and envy。 Mr。 Bowdoin was sure to inherit three million dollars。 Then a very necessary trip to somewhere； and Berenice stared at herself in the glass。 What was it？ What were people saying； if anything？ This was strange。 Well； she was young and beautiful。 There were others。 Still； she might have come to love Bowdoin。 He was so airy； artistic in an unconscious way。 Really； she had thought better of him。
The effect of all this was not wholly depressing。 Enigmatic； disdainful； with a touch of melancholy and a world of gaiety and courage； Berenice heard at times behind joy the hollow echo of unreality。 Here was a ticklish business； this living。 For want of light and air the finest flowers might die。 Her mother's error was not so inexplicable now。 By it had she not； after all； preserved herself and her family to a certain phase of social superiority？ Beauty was of such substance as dreams are made of； and as fleeting。 Not one's self aloneone's inmost worth； the splendor of one's dreamsbut other thingsname； wealth； the presence or absence of rumor； and of accidentwere important。 Berenice's lip curled。 But life could be lived。 One could lie to the world。 Youth is optimistic； and Berenice； in spite of her splendid mind； was so young。 She saw life as a game； a good chance； that could be played in many ways。 Cowperwood's theory of things began to appeal to her。 One must create one's own career； carve it out； or remain horribly dull or bored； dragged along at the chariot wheels of others。 If society was so finicky； if men were so dullwell； there was one thing she could do。 She must have life； lifeand money would help some to that end。
Besides； Cowperwood by degrees was becoming attractive to her； he really was。 He was so much better than most of the others； so very powerful。 She was preternaturally gay； as one who says； 〃Victory shall be mine anyhow。〃
Chapter LXI
The Cataclysm
And now at last Chicago is really facing the thing which it has most feared。 A giant monopoly is really reaching out to enfold it with an octopus…like grip。 And Cowperwood is its eyes； its tentacles； its force！ Embedded in the giant strength and good will of Haeckelheimer； Gotloeb & Co。； he is like a monument based on a rock of great strength。 A fifty…year franchise； to be delivered to him by a majority of forty…eight out of a total of sixty…eight aldermen （in case the ordinance has to be passed over the mayor's veto）； is all that now stands between him and the realization of his dreams。 What a triumph for his iron policy of courage in the face of all obstacles！ What a tribute to his ability not to flinch in the face of storm and stress！ Other men might have abandoned the game long before； but not he。 What a splendid windfall of chance that the money element should of its own accord take fright at the Chicago idea of the municipalization of public privilege and should hand him this giant South Side system as a reward for his stern opposition to fol…de…rol theories。
Through the influence of these powerful advocates he was invited to speak before various local commercial bodiesthe Board of Real Estate Dealers； the Property Owners' Association； the Merchants' League； the Bankers' Union； and so forth； where he had an opportunity to present his case and justify his cause。 But the effect of his suave speechifyings in these quarters was largely neutralized by newspaper denunciation。 〃Can any good come out of Nazareth？〃 was the regular inquiry。 That section of the press formerly beholden to Hand and Schryhart stood out as bitterly as ever； and most of the other newspapers； being under no obligation to Eastern capital； felt it the part of wisdom to support the rank and file。 The most searching and elaborate mathematical examinations were conducted with a view to showing the fabulous profits of the streetcar trust in future years。 The fine hand of Eastern banking…houses was detected and their sinister motives noised abroad。 〃Millions for everybody in the trust； but not one cent for Chicago；〃 was the Inquirer's way of putting it。 Certain altruists of the community were by now so aroused that in the destruction of Cowperwood they saw their duty to God； to humanity； and to democracy straight and clear。 The heavens had once more opened； and they saw a great light。 On the other hand the politiciansthose in office outside the mayorconstituted a petty band of guerrillas or free…booters who； like hungry swine shut in a pen； were ready to fall upon any and all propositions brought to their attention with but one end in view： that they might eat； and eat heartily。 In times of great opportunity and contest for privilege life always sinks to its lowest depths of materialism and rises at the same time to its highest reaches of the ideal。 When the waves of the sea are most towering its hollows are most awesome。
Finally the summer passed； the council assembled； and with the first breath of autumn chill the very air of the city was touched by a premonition of contest。 Cowperwood； disappointed by the outcome of his various ingratiatory efforts； decided to fall back on his old reliable method of bribery。 He fixed on his price twenty thousand dollars for each favorable vote； to begin with。 Later； if necessary； he would raise it to twenty…five thousand； or even thirty thousand； making the total cost in the neighborhood of a million and a half。 Yet it was a small price indeed when the ultimate return was considered。 He planned to have his ordinance introduced by an alderman named Ballenberg； a trusted lieutenant； and handed thereafter to the clerk； who would read it； whereupon another henchman would rise to move that it be referred to the joint committee on streets and alleys； consisting of thirty…four members drawn from all the standing committees。 By this committee it would be considered for one week in the general council…chamber； where public hearings would be held。 By keeping up a bold front Cowperwood thought the necessary iron could be put into his followers to enable them to go through with the scorching ordeal which was sure to follow。 Already aldermen were being besieged at their homes and in the precincts of the ward clubs and meeting…places。 Their mail was being packed with importuning or threatening letters。 Their very children were being derided； their neighbors urged to chastise them。 Ministers wrote them in appealing or denunciatory vein。 They were spied upon and abused daily in the public prints。 The mayor； shrewd son of battle that he was； realizing that he had a whip of terror in his hands； excited by the long contest waged； and by the smell of battle； was not backward in urging the most drastic remedies。
〃Wait till the thing comes up；〃 he said to his friends； in a great central music…hall conference in which thousands participated； and when the matter of ways and means to defeat the venal aldermen was being discussed。 〃We have Mr。 Cowperwood in a corner； I think。 He cannot do anything for two weeks； once his ordinance is in； and by that time we shall be able to organize a vigilance committee； ward meetings； marching clubs； and the like。 We ought to organize a great central mass…meeting for the Sunday night before the Monday when the bill comes up for final hearing。 We want overflow meetings in every ward at the same time。 I tell you； gentlemen； that； while I believe there are enough honest voters in the city council to prevent the Cowperwood crowd fro