‘Laurence Melford would gladly see us, and our proposed railroad, toasting in hell,’ said Charles. ‘Surely you don’t expect any support from him?’

‘He’s the key, though, isn’t he?’ Collis put in. ‘He’s the richest man in San Francisco, after Parrott, and he’s the social leader bar none. If he can at least be pressed into giving the railroad the nod, then there’s no question at all that the business community will advance us whatever we need.’

‘You’re talking rot,’ said Leland, with a dismissive wave of his hand. ‘You could no more press Laurence Melford into approving a transcontinental railroad than you could catch fleas with a butterknife.’

Theodore, however, knew the workings of Collis’s mind better than Leland and quietly said, ‘All right — supposing it’s possible to win Melford over. Not his support, perhaps, but at least a withdrawal of his out-and-out hostility. What about Stride?’

‘Stride’s in a delicate political position right now, but he offered to help us before, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t ask him for more help now.’

‘What if he refuses?’ asked Leland.

‘Then the Washington newspapers get to hear a most unpleasant story about him — about how he took in the destitute daughter of an old friend whose business had been ruined by the crash of ’57, and how he sold that poor innocent girl to another Senator, as a slave, and a drudge, and for his carnal amusement.’

Theodore stared at Collis. He knew that Collis was talking about Delphine, and he could scarcely believe what he was hearing.

‘What stuff and nonsense,’ Leland said. ‘You can’t—’

But Theodore interrupted, ‘You wouldn’t. Would you? Think what such a story would do to Delphine. It would ruin her. And it’s not even true.’

‘It’s mostly true,’ said Collis. ‘It’s true enough to show Stride up as the venal character he really is.’

‘But Delphine’s reputation?’

‘She’s sleeping with Carslake, isn’t she? Half of Washington must know about it already. And she’s nothing more than a governess, and general help about the house. What kind of a reputation is that?’

‘I’m talking about her moral reputation!’ shouted Theodore, shocked. ‘Did she drag you down in the dirt, when you were destitute, and she was still wealthy?’

‘I offered to take her away,’ said Collis edgily. ‘I offered her everything.’

‘And because she said no, you’re quite happy to use her however you will? Even if it means destroying the poor girl’s life?’

Collis took a breath. ‘Theodore,’ he said, ‘it won’t be the first life this railroad’s taken, and by God you know as well as I do that it won’t be the last.’

‘The railroad! The railroad! All I ever hear from you is the railroad! You’re obsessed! You talk about it as if it were some kind of God! You talk about conquering the High Sierras as if it were more important than humanity itself — your own humanity, or anybody else’s!’

Theodore stood facing Collis, and he was breathing hard.