“Just what is your plan?” asked Taylor, quite as if he did not know.
‚ÄúWhy, man, the transfer of a hundred millions of stock would give me control of the cotton-mills of America. Think of it!‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe biggest trust next to steel.‚Äù
‚ÄúWhy not bigger?‚Äù asked Taylor, imperturbably puffing away. Mr. ¬ÝEasterly eyed him. He had regarded Taylor hitherto as a very valuable asset to the business‚ÅÝ‚Äîhad relied on his knowledge of routine, his judgment and his honesty; but he detected tonight a new tone in his clerk, something almost authoritative and self-reliant. He paused and smiled at him.
“Bigger?”
But John Taylor was dead in earnest. He did not smile.
‚ÄúFirst, there‚Äôs England‚ÅÝ‚Äîand all Europe; why not bring them into the trust?‚Äù
‚ÄúPossibly, later; but first, America. Of course, I‚Äôve got my eyes on the European situation and feelers out; but such matters are more difficult and slower of adjustment over there‚ÅÝ‚Äîso damned much law and gospel.‚Äù
“But there’s another side.”
“What’s that?”
‚ÄúYou are planning to combine and control the manufacture of cotton‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“Yes.”
“But how about your raw material? The steel trust owns its iron mines.”