Read Rodin's Debutante for Free Online Page A

shareholders or for other reasons. Depreciation was a black art. Then there was the psychology of the thing, the mood of the day, what the headlines said. What the headlines didn't say, mumble mumble. As for himself, he believed it wise to keep all his cards close to his vest until the specific moment when it was advantageous to allow someone a peek. One card only and usually not the relevant card. Keep that in mind, Tommy. You'll never go wrong. Money moves on the tide. Identify the tide quickly. Don't be the last boat launched or you'll be ruined.
    And Tommy listened, without comprehension, his father's words somehow soothing even with the undertow of anger and resentment; he seemed to take such pleasure in explanation, and if the explanation was opaque, that was part of its charm. The fact was, his father knew things that other men did not and that gave him authority. He wished to pass along this authority to his son and that was why he was so patient; alas, everyone had a cross to bear. Meanwhile, Lily would be picking at her food, her mind far away, to come awake only when her husband commenced to complain about school, why Tommy couldn't do better, why Tommy was eternally on the wrong side of the headmaster. With just the slightest effort ... Henry, his mother said, leave Tommy alone. Tommy's fine. We simply haven't been able to find the right place, with a congenial atmosphere among boys like himself and instructors who know how to give individual attention. Those schools are so cloistered, they're nunneries for boys. No wonder Tommy can't get on there. Who could? And what difference does it make? It isn't as if he has to go out and earn a living, starting off as a clerk somewhere. Tommy has his own métier. Tommy will find his way. I'll see to it.
    But his father went on as if he hadn't heard, as perhaps he hadn't. The many valuable friendships one forms in boarding school, friendships that last a lifetime, boys helping one another as they moved onward in life, in business and so forth. Sports, even marriage. Whom do you turn to for advice but your oldest friend, and that would be the friend met in boarding school. And that's why boarding school is important. Once under way Henry Ogden was difficult to divert. He was not amenable to diversion. Once he had a thought he pursued it to the ground. The Ogden dining room was suitable for thoughts expressed at length, its dark corners and invisible ceiling encouraged reflection. When his father fell silent at last, a servant would appear as if by magic and the plates were silently removed from sight.
    Lily always had the definitive last words, not spoken so much as crooned: We'll see. On this occasion Lily ventured another thought: I wasn't aware you were so fond of your boarding school or your college, either, Henry dear. And I wasn't aware you had any help along the way. To that thought her husband had no reply but smiled as if he understood. The boy Tommy learned the way of the world in that room, and now he looked up to see the company staring at him.
    Bert Marks cleared his throat and said, That's a marvelous idea, Tommy. Really generous and farsighted. Naturally it'll take some time, getting things started. Extensive renovations to the house and outbuildings, recruitment of a headmaster and faculty. Recruitment of boys. It can't happen overnight. Bert smiled gamely. His great skill as a lawyer was delay and obfuscation when an unmanageable, potentially dangerous problem presented itself. A problem he wanted to make go away. Amazing how many problems vanished when you drew them out, taking one baby step at a time, finding difficulties within difficulties, and all the while toiling away at out-of-town trips, depositions, and necessary fact-finding, a remorseless search for precedent. It wasn't called due diligence for nothing. Still, it was also a fact of life that Tommy, once settled on a course, was hard to divert.
    Nonsense, Tommy said. I expect these matters to be