A little later Haguenin printed editorials which referred to Cowperwood as "the wrecker," "the Philadelphia adventurer," "a conscienceless promoter," and the like.
Aileen guessed instantly what the trouble was, but she was too disturbed as to her own position to make any comment.

She could not resolve the threats and menaces of Cowperwood's envious world any more than she could see her way through her own grim difficulties.
One day, in scanning the columns of that faithful chronicle of Chicago social doings, the Chicago Saturday Review, she came across an item which served as a final blow.

"For some time in high social circles," the paragraph ran, "speculation has been rife as to the amours and liaisons of a certain individual of great wealth and pseudo social prominence, who once made a serious attempt to enter Chicago society.
It is not necessary to name the man, for all who are acquainted with recent events in Chicago will know who is meant.

The latest rumor to affect his already nefarious reputation relates to two women--one the daughter, and the other the wife, of men of repute and standing in the community.

In these latest instances it is more than likely that he has arrayed influences of the greatest importance socially and financially against himself, for the husband in the one case and the father in the other are men of weight and authority.