The Titans (24 page)

bottle contained a small quantity of tea; the same tea Philip had found in his shoes after he and a band of patriots boarded the king's ships in Boston harbor to conduct what was still referred to as Mr. Adams' tea party. A rendering of the tea bottle was used as the colophon of the printing house, and appeared on the masthead of every issue of the Union. The right-hand space was occupied by a glass display case with wooden ends. Inside the case, a slotted velvet pedestal held a round, tarnished fob medallion. The medallion had been presented to Amanda's cousin, Jared Kent, by her father, Gilbert. A worn circlet of tarred rope leaned against the front of the pedestal: a The Titans333 bracelet Jared had woven for Amanda from cordage of the frigate Constitution, on which he'd sailed in the War of 1812. Michael gazed at the obverse of the medallion. The partially filled tea bottle had been used as a central decoration, and was surrounded by a Latin motto he knew by heart. Cape locum et fac vestigium. Take a stand and make a mark. The words were an affirmation of the family's personal code-and a promise to the country in which the Kents had prospered. Michael doubted Louis was much influenced by the first half of the motto, though he certainly seemed intent on living up to the second. Depressing- He helped himself to more brandy. Ribbons of smoke drifted over Louis' shoulder as he stood gazing at the moonlit lawn leading down to the bluffs. Israel tossed two papers back on the table: "Louis, this is all a damned mystery to me. What's so interesting about patent medicine claims, information on militia units, or the announcement that someone named Dr. Schlosser is stopping at the Spotswood Hotel, where hell be happy to treat corns and bunions just as he did for the King of Bavaria?" Louis chuckled as he turned. "You read only the trivial advertisements. You missed the significant ones. I thought you were a better businessman." The mildly sarcastic rebuke made Israel stiffen. Roth- man, too, was unamused-but for a different reason: "I know what he's driving at, Israel. The notices placed by industrial firms." He opened a paper and pointed. "Powder for sale by the Du Fonts of Wilmington." His finger kept moving. "Goodyear extolling its India rubber tents. Whitney's of New Haven-was He flung the paper on the pile. "One company's even of 334The Girl I Left Behind Me feting to alter muskets for percussion fire at two dollars apiece." Louis beamed. "Exactly." "What do you mean, exactlyl Those notices appeared before Sumter surrendered." "Joshua, don't be naive. Naturally there won't be similar advertisements in the future. Not in the public press. But do you honestly think every Northern firm is going to stop doing business with the South?" He clamped the cigar in his teeth again, squinting through the smoke. "Consider a few simple facts. For instance comhow many first-class iron manuf acturies are located in the South? One!" "The Tredegar in Richmond," Rothman murmured. Israel stared at the floor. "Correct The Tredegar-purveyors of heavy guns and boilers for the U.s. Navy's steam frigates- locomotive bodies and boilers-piping for municipal water systems. Not another factory in Dixie can match it The Tredegar will convert to making military equipment if the war lasts any length of time. For our sake, I sincerely hope it will." An unnatural silence descended on the library. Rothman looked as if he'd been bludgeoned. Israel stalked to the mantel and leaned there, staring at the Kentucky rifle, rigid with fury. "The truth is, gentlemen, the South has some industrial faculties, but not nearly enough. I've studied the subject. I can give you specifics-was Rothman scowled. "Why bother?" "Because I want to, my friend! To make my case! In the South, about a hundred and ten thousand people are engaged in factory trades. Compare that with a million three hundred thousand in the North. In the South there are approximately eighteen thousand factories-a hundred and ten thousand up here. We have as many plants as the South has workers!" The Titans335 He spoke directly to the banker: "Don't you see what that means in the event of a lengthy war? Where is the South going to get shoes? Medicines? Those new vulcanized rubber springs for rail cars? And a hundred other items I could name?" "You've made your point," Rothman snapped. "Not quite. Southern cotton is vitally important to one of our enterprises. The Blackstone mills in Paw- tucket. But the cotton we need is going to be rotting in the fields or moldering on the wharves. It won't be shipped to Europe-Jeff Davis is going to hold it back to force England and France to recognize the Confederacy his Michael leaped up, slamming his snifter on a table, as he blurted: "What the hell are you proposing, Louis? That we join hands with that damn Fernando Wood and support his scheme for Manhattan to secede, set itself up as a separate political entity and trade with both sides?" Louis waved. "Mayor Wood's an idiot. Certainly I'm not proposing we involve ourselves in any plan as stupid as that. In fact, I'm not proposing anything." A pause. "I'm telling you what we're going to do." Israel erupted: "Trade with the slave states?" "Yes." "I'll have no part of it!" "Calm yourself!" Louis said, walking to the mulatto and reaching for his arm. Israel jerked away. Louis kept his temper: "You're entirely correct-you'll have nothing to do with it. Personally. But we're going to finance our venture with the Ophir profits." Pandemonium. Rothman shouted the loudest: "Louis, that's absolutely unthinkable! Every penny of that money goes into the separate account for Jephtha and his sons-along with the earnings from its 336The Girl I Left Behind Me reinvestment. The California funds are never mixed with the rest of the Kent income. Never!" "I appreciate that, Joshua. However, you forget one compelling truth. Take any one of our enterprises. The newspaper-the publishing house-or the Stovall Works and the Blackstone Company, in which we hold substantial interests. Our income from each of those sources has demands on it. Operating expenses. Plowback for improvements to plant and equipment. Your bank collects a sizable managerial fee. So do the attorneys at Benbow and Benbow. Add in my salary, and Michael's-was "Good-sized sums! Hardly to be minimized with the picayune term salary!" "Well, Michael and I-you, too, I expect-have become accustomed to a certain style of living." No one smiled. Abruptly, Louis continued: "I won't put a penny from any of the businesses into a high-risk venture. With one exception. Even after deduction of Israel's share of the earnings, and the shares of those partners, Pelham and Nichols, there's a formidable sum left over. I've thought about it a long time. Our sole source of risk capital is the Ophir." "Well!" Rothman thundered. "Your mother left explicit instructions! We can only invest the Ophir money in sound, profitable stocks!" "What I'm talking about can be fantastically profitable." "And dangerous," Michael said. "Probably illegal." "Michael's right," Rothman agreed. "I can't go along with it. Your mother insisted-was "My mother, Joshua, is no longer with us." Rothman's face turned red. Louis hurled his cigar into the fire: "Jesus God Almighty, what is this, a conclave of saints? Do you think I'm talking about anything hundreds of other Northern businessmen won't be The Titans337 doing? If things work out, we'll make Jephtha and those pups of his fifty times richer than they are already! Every cent of the principal will be returned to them! Hell, I'll even concede some of the profits." Coldly, Rothman said, "Keeping a certain percentage as compensation for your efforts, of course." Louis smiled a bland smile. "I'd be entitled to it. But let's get down to the particulars-starting with cotton. I've been in contact with the Lacroix brothers in New Orleans. They agree with me. Opportunities are bound to exist for commerce between the opposing governments-was "The Confederacy is no damned government!" Israel cried. "It's a region in rebellion! Trying to preserve a system that should have been buried two hundred years ago!" "Israel, your feelings are understandable. But they don't square with the realities of the situation." "What realities?" "The Confederacy is already a second, sovereign power on this continent. It will be until it's defeated- which is inevitable. I cited one reason a few minutes ago. Industrial resources. Population's another." "But-was "I insist you let me finish. If you want to get technical, Lincoln's already acknowledged the Confederacy's a government, not a section engaged in insurrection." "That's not true!" "It is! Lincoln did it with his blundering announcement of a blockade. Naval blockades are instruments one government uses against another. Read your maritime law. Apparently neither the President nor Secretary Welles took the trouble." Israel looked stunned. Louis lit another cigar. "We've gotten too far from the subject-was Thick-tongued, Michael said, "No, too close." Louis ignored him. "We've taken the first steps with the 338The Girl I Left Behind Me Lacroixs. They're going to establish a dummy finn in a city convenient for-ah-confidential trading. A city far from Washington. Vicksburg, perhaps. Or Natchez. Our base of operations will be Chicago. The name of our firm will be Federal Suppliers. Benbow and Ben- bow is already doing the preliminary paperwork to set it up." "I can't believe it," Rothman breathed. Michael felt sick; sick and betrayed. Israel was eyeing the French sword as if he wanted to haul it down and use it on Amanda's son. Rothman collapsed in a chair. "I can't believe the Benbows would be a party to-was "Oh, they don't like it much," Louis interrupted as he helped himself to more brandy. His back was turned. He spoke loudly, to be certain they heard him: "However, the Benbows realize one fact-was He faced them, massaging the snifter between his palms. "They work for me. If they don't like the arrangement, they're free to withdraw at any time." He smiled and drank. The smile of an adder, Michael thought, his stomach hurting. "That applies to you gentlemen, too," Louis added. "Of course, if you break off our association, your financial position will suffer. Substantially. Still, the choice is yours. If you haven't the guts to do what dozens of other businessmen-was "We are not other businessmen, goddamn it!" Rothman roared. "We're the representatives of the Kent family!" "A family I intend to see prosper even more than it's prospered up till now." Louis said it quietly, unwilling to be baited into a shouting match. "The principles behind this war mean absolutely nothing to you?" Louis shrugged. "Our public posture should be full The Titans339 support of the administration. But as you yourself remarked at dinner, Joshua, we will be dealing with Americans. Why the devil are you acting so sanctimonious? You've admitted Wall Street hasn't broken its ties with the South-was "I explained the reason for that! And its no secret from the Federal government!" "While your arrangement," Michael put in, "can't be anything but secret." Louis remained calm. "True. All goods wfll be bought for gold or silver. No paper money accepted by either side. Who knows what paper will be worth before the war's over? A couple of men who will eventually manage Federal Suppliers have started using gold-was "You've hired people?" Michael asked. Louis nodded. "Who are they?" "It's not important." "I think it is." "Well, you're overruled. As I was saying-the men have started using gold to buy one of the basic commodities in which we'll be dealing." Rothman leaped to his feet. "What gold? Nothing's been withdrawn from Jephtha's accounts-was "Not as yet. I've kept a strict accounting, though. I'll ask for a transfer of funds very soon." "What's this commodity you're stockpiling?" Michael wanted to know. "One which the Lacroixs suggested. Something very commonplace. But important." He smiled the adder's smile again, forcing them to wait. Michael felt beaten. Louis was like a brakeless railroad engine running downhill. Unstoppable. After he'd teased them a few more seconds, Louis uttered one word: "Salt." 340The Girl I Left Behind Me "God help us," Rothman groaned. "You have lost your mind." "Allow me to disagree. I made the decision after careful research. Just like everything else in Mr. Davis' splendid new domain, salt is critically scarce. The only wells of any significance are located in southwestern Virginia. They'll be taxed to capacity if the war continues beyond three or four months. Without salt, meat can't be cured. Without meat, men can't be fed. Without decent food, no army fights effectively. Salt's important to the civilian population, too. Think of the field niggers working the cotton. Their productivity depends on their strength, and their strength depends on an adequate diet. Which includes meat. Federal Suppliers is going into the salt business." "Jesus." Michael was trembling. "Jesus" Louis grew unfriendly. "I anticipated that land of reaction from you, frankly. I've tried to be reasonable. And I'll say it one more time-I'm doing nothing others won't be doing. On both sides of the quarrel." White-lipped, Michael told him, "I don't believe you." "That's your error, then. I'll give you an example to prove it. There's already been private communication between Memminger, that Dutchman who runs the Confederate treasury, and two bank note companies, the American and the National, in New York." White the others stared, Louis exclaimed: "What's so astonishing? Where's the Confederacy going to get its first paper money? From companies that specialize in engraving and printing bills! Northern companies! The vice president of National told me he'd have to label the bills products of the Southern Bank Note Company-which I doubt exists. National has no qualms, I assure you. And profiteering isn't confined to illegal trade-I personally know a Brooklyn clothier who's working on a contract to supply Federal uni- The Titans341 forms. He- intends to manufacture them of shoddy. Reprocessed rags! He's going to charge the same as he would for uniforms of first-quality wool. No qualms there either. Why should we be exceptions?" "Jesus," Michael said again, "If Mrs. A ever heard such talk-was "Michael, I am growing goddamned sick and tired of continual references to my mother!" "Well, you may not like it, but- "comwho was, I remind you, my mother and not yours" Michael went white. Before he could retort, Rothman stormed toward Louis, shouting again: "That's the filthiest, most derogatory thing you've ever said!" "Joshua-was "Who the hell took care of you when Amanda died? Who sat with you, hour by hour, after you came out of that concussive sleep Stovall caused when he hit you? Who consoled you when you learned your mother was dead and wept like an infant?" "Yes, yes, I