THE PURCHASE PRICE



What you say is of interest. We already have fol-
lowed with profound interest your efforts. Your
words here justify our concern in meeting you. This is
perhaps the first time in our history when a woman has
been asked to meet those most concerned in even so in-
formal an assemblage as this, at precisely this place."
  There were gravity and dignity in his words. The
majesty of a government, the dignity of even the
simplest and most democratic form of government, the
unified needs, the concentrated wish of many millions
expressed in the persons of a few,- these are the
things which can not fail to impress even the most
ignorant and insensitive as deeply as the most extrava-
gant pageantry of the proudest monarchy. They did
not fail to impress Josephine St. Auban, brilliant and
audacious thinker though she was, and used to the
pomp of Old World courts. At once she felt al-
most a sense of fright, of terror. The silence of these
other gentlemen, so able to hold their peace, came to
her mind with the impress of some mighty power. She
half shrank back into her chair.
  " Madam, you have no need of fear," broke in the
deep voice of the gentleman who had escorted her
thither, and who now observed her perturbation.
" We shall not harm you - I think not even criticize
you seriously. Our wish is wholly for your own
good."
  " Assuredly," resumed the first speaker. " That is
the wish of all my friends here. But let us come now
to the point. Madam, to be frank with you, you have,
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