twenty minutes past eleven
He was a brother of Fanshaw 's mother ; and she and Herron had been working upon him . But so long as Dumont 's share in the scandal was not publicly attributed he remained obdurate -- he never permitted his up-town creed or code to interfere with his down-town doings unless it became necessary -- that is , unless it could be done without money loss . For up-town or down-town , to make money was always and in all circumstances the highest morality , to lose money the profoundest immorality . At twenty minutes past eleven Melville and the president of the other banks of his chain called loans to Dumont and the Dumont supporting group to the amount of three millions and a quarter . Ten minutes later other banks and trust companies whose loans to Dumont and his allies either were on call or contained provisions permitting a demand for increased collateral , followed Melville 's example and aimed and sped their knives for Dumont 's vitals . Giddings found himself face to face with unexpected and peremptory demands for eleven millions in cash and thirteen millions in additional collateral securities . If he did not meet these demands forthwith the banks and trust companies , to protect themselves , would throw upon the market at whatever price they could get the thirty-odd millions of Woolens stocks which they held as collateral for the loans .