The fact is," he said, lowering his voice confidentially, "Senator Dunham is at the helm in this thing.
You well know that old Hugh and the Senator were closely allied.
Now, Hugh blindly trusted Ferris, as the statesman's nephew, and, in fact, Ferris is, to a certain extent, a very dangerous customer for all of us.

He had papers and secrets which might ruin his uncle, and a discovery of the hidden relations with Hugh would gravely affect our company's commanding position.

Old Boardman has had a week of private conference with Senator Dunham.
"Boardman knew every secret of poor old Hugh's heart.

Dunham and Boardman have gone over all the documents and matters surrendered by Ferris, and the Senator vouches for Ferris' future silence.
"He has himself set off a hundred thousand dollars of our stock, in Ferris' name (in escrow) as a guarantee of the young man's silence.

This is a present to Ferris, who let Dunham have the first privately telegraphed news of Hugh's death.
"Why, sir.