XIV
In the very hour of his great success H. R. suddenly was thus confronted by the greatest menace to a political career—wealth!
In one morning's mail he received three hundred and eighty-four offers to become the advertising Napoleon of national concerns; no limit to the advertising appropriations. He added up the aggregate offers of salary and maximum commissions.
His income, if he accepted all the offers, would amount to $614,500 per annum.
So great is the danger and so widely recognized is it that nobody is worthy of respect until he is threatened by wealth with wealth.
Should H. R. accept greatness to-day and let to-morrow bring the littleness?
He did not reply to his correspondents. He thus went up in their estimation. To refuse to take money is something. To refuse even to refuse it is everything!
He prepared a memorandum containing all the offers he had received, with the sum total of same, and sent the originals of the letters and telegrams to Mr. Goodchild.
His only comment, in careless lead-pencil, was what it should be: