Sons of Fortune

“No, sir,” said Jimmy, “but I’ll bet it’s what happened.”

“You may well be right, Mr. Gates, but you would not have been able to prove what took place in the bedroom that night unless you could provide a reliable witness. Had you made such a rash statement in court, opposing counsel would have objected, the judge would have sustained his objection, and the jury would have dismissed you as a fool, Mr. Gates. And more importantly, you would have let down your client. Don’t ever rely on what might have happened, however likely it appears, unless you can prove it. If you can’t, remain silent.”

“But…” began Fletcher. Several students quickly bowed their heads, others held their breath, while the rest just stared at Fletcher in disbelief.

“Name?”

“Davenport, sir.”

“No doubt you feel able to explain what you mean by the word ‘but,’ Mr. Davenport?”

“Mrs. Demetri was advised by her counsel that if she won the case, as neither of them owned a majority holding, the company would have to cease trading. The Kendall Act, 1941. She then placed her shares on the open market and they were picked up by her husband’s greatest rival, a Mr. Canelli, for $100,000. I cannot prove that Mr. Canelli was, or wasn’t, sleeping with Mrs. Demetri, but I do know that the company went into liquidation a year later, when she repurchased her shares for ten cents each, at a cost of $7,300, and then immediately signed a new partnership deal with her husband.”

“Was Mr. Canelli able to prove the Demetris were acting in collusion?” Fletcher thought carefully. Was Abrahams setting him a trap? “Why do you hesitate?” demanded Abrahams.

“It wouldn’t constitute proof, professor.”

“Nevertheless, what is it you wish to tell us?”

“Mrs. Demetri produced a second child a year later, and the birth certificate indicated that Mr. Demetri was the father.”

“You’re right, that is not proof, so what charge was brought against her?”

“None; in fact, the new company went on to be very successful.”

“Then how did they cause the law to be changed?”

“The judge brought this case to the attention of the attorney general of that state.”

“Which state?”

“Ohio, and as a consequence, they passed the Marriage Partnership Act.”

“Year?”

“1949.”

“Changes of relevance?”

“Husbands and wives could no longer repurchase shares sold in a former company in which they had been partners, if that directly benefited them as individuals.”

“Thank you, Mr. Davenport,” said the professor, as the clock struck eleven. “Your ‘but’ was well qualified.” A ripple of applause broke out. “But not that well qualified,” added Abrahams, as he left the lecture theater.

Nat sat on the wall opposite the dining hall and waited patiently. After he had seen about five hundred young women leave the building, he decided the reason she was so slim was because she simply didn’t eat. Then she suddenly came rushing through the swing doors. Nat had been given more than enough time to rehearse his lines, but still felt nervous when he caught up with her. “Hi, I’m Nat.” She looked up, but didn’t smile. “We met the other day.” She still didn’t respond.

“On the top of the hill.”

“Yes, I do remember,” she said.

“But you didn’t tell me your name.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Have I done something to annoy you?”

“No.”

“Then can I ask what you meant by ‘your reputation’?”