" Jimmy Oliver was the whilom district attorney
serving at this time, and incidentally free adviser to Mr. Butler in
many ways. He was also, accidentally, a warm personal friend of the
State treasurer.
"How much of the loan do you want?"
"Five million."
"Five million!" Butler sat up. "Man, what are you talking about? That's
a good deal of money. Where are you going to sell all that?"
"I want to bid for five million," assuaged Cowperwood, softly. "I only
want one million but I want the prestige of putting in a bona fide bid
for five million. It will do me good on the street."
Butler sank back somewhat relieved.
"Five million! Prestige! You want one million. Well, now, that's
different. That's not such a bad idea. We ought to be able to get that."
He rubbed his chin some more and stared into the fire.
And Cowperwood felt confident when he left the house that evening that
Butler would not fail him but would set the wheels working. Therefore,
he was not surprised, and knew exactly what it meant, when a few days
later he was introduced to City Treasurer Julian Bode, who promised to
introduce him to State Treasurer Van Nostrand and to see that his claims
to consideration were put before the people.
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