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been won, and it appeared that the party had not suffered so much, he did not understand quite
why it was that Cowperwood was still so carefully included in the Proceedings; but he had faith
to believe that the leaders had some just grounds for not letting him off. From one source and
another he learned that Butler had some private grudge against Cowperwood. What it was no
one seemed to know exactly. The general impression was that Cowperwood had led Butler into
some unwholesome financial transactions. Anyhow, it was generally understood that for the
good of the party, and in order to teach a wholesome lesson to dangerous subordinates--it had
been decided to allow these several indictments to take their course. Cowperwood was to be
punished quite as severely as Stener for the moral effect on the community. Stener was to be
sentenced the maximum sentence for his crime in order that the party and the courts should
appear properly righteous. Beyond that he was to be left to the mercy of the governor, who
could ease things up for him if he chose, and if the leaders wished. In the silly mind of the
general public the various judges of Quarter Sessions, like girls incarcerated in boarding-
schools, were supposed in their serene aloofness from life not to know what was going on in the
subterranean realm of politics; but they knew well enough, and, knowing particularly well from
whence came their continued position and authority, they were duly grateful.
Chapter XL
When Cowperwood came into the crowded courtroom with his father and Steger, quite fresh
and jaunty (looking the part of the shrewd financier, the man of affairs), every one stared. It was
really too much to expect, most of them thought, that a man like this would be convicted. He
was, no doubt, guilty; but, also, no doubt, he had ways and means of evading the law. His
lawyer, Harper Steger, looked very shrewd and canny to them. It was very cold, and both men
wore long, dark, bluish-gray overcoats, cut in the latest mode. Cowperwood was given to small
boutonnieres in fair weather, but to-day he wore none. His tie, however, was of heavy,
impressive silk, of lavender hue, set with a large, clear, green emerald. He wore only the
thinnest of watch-chains, and no other ornament of any kind. He always looked jaunty and yet
reserved, good-natured, and yet capable and self-sufficient. Never had he looked more so than
he did to-day.
He at once took in the nature of the scene, which had a peculiar interest for him. Before him
was the as yet empty judge's rostrum, and at its right the empty jury-box, between which, and to
the judge's left, as he sat facing the audience, stood the witness-chair where he must presently
sit and testify. Behind it, already awaiting the arrival of the court, stood a fat bailiff, one John
Sparkheaver whose business it was to present the aged, greasy Bible to be touched by the
witnesses in making oath, and to say, "Step this way," when the testimony was over. There
were other bailiffs--one at the gate giving into the railed space before the judge's desk, where
prisoners were arraigned, lawyers sat or pleaded, the defendant had a chair, and so on; another
in the aisle leading to the jury-room, and still another guarding the door by which the public
entered. Cowperwood surveyed Stener, who was one of the witnesses, and who now, in his
helpless fright over his own fate, was without malice toward any one. He had really never borne
any. He wished if anything now that he had followed Cowperwood's advice, seeing where he
now was, though he still had faith that Mollenhauer and the political powers represented by him
would do something for him with the governor, once he was sentenced. He was very pale and
comparatively thin. Already he had lost that ruddy bulk which had been added during the days
of his prosperity. He wore a new gray suit and a brown tie, and was clean-shaven. When his
eye caught Cowperwood's steady beam, it faltered and drooped. He rubbed his ear foolishly.
Cowperwood nodded.
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