Thorsen at once hurried to his friend, Solon Kaempfaert, who in turn went to Kaffrath for information.
"I have heard something to that effect," was Kaffrath's only comment, "but really I do not know." Thereupon Thorsen and Kaempfaert imagined that Kaffrath was in the conspiracy to sell out and leave them with no particularly valuable pickings.

It was very sad.
Meanwhile, Cowperwood, on the advice of Kaffrath, was approaching Isaac White, Arnold C.Benjamin, and Otto Matjes direct--talking with them as if they were the only three he desired to deal with.

A little later Thorsen and Kaempfaert were visited in the same spirit, and agreed in secret fear to sell out, or rather lease at the very advantageous terms Cowperwood offered, providing he could get the others to do likewise.
This gave the latter a strong backing of sentiment on the board.
Finally Isaac White stated at one of the meetings that he had been approached with an interesting proposition, which he then and there outlined.

He was not sure what to think, he said, but the board might like to consider it.

At once Thorsen and Kaempfaert were convinced that all Johnson had suggested was true.