The Financier · Chapter
XXXII explained
The political triumvirate of Butler, Mollenhauer, and Simpson convenes at Senator Simpson's home to address the escalating scandal involving Frank Cowperwood and George Stener's misuse of city treasury funds.
What happens
The political triumvirate of Butler, Mollenhauer, and Simpson convenes at Senator Simpson's home to address the escalating scandal involving Frank Cowperwood and George Stener's misuse of city treasury funds. Butler, now vengeful due to Cowperwood's affair with his daughter Aileen, reveals that Cowperwood obtained $60,000 in city loan certificates without Stener's knowledge. Simpson and Mollenhauer, initially surprised by Butler's hostility, see the potential to use Cowperwood as a scapegoat to protect the Republican party before the upcoming election. They agree to let Cowperwood face punishment, with Butler determined to see him imprisoned.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption and Power
The political triumvirate manipulates the scandal to protect their party's election chances, using Cowperwood as a scapegoat while ignoring their own complicity.
Deception and Self-Justification
Butler conceals his personal vendetta behind claims of legal justice, while Simpson and Mollenhauer rationalize sacrificing Cowperwood for political expediency.
Love and Betrayal
Butler's betrayal by Cowperwood's affair with Aileen fuels his ruthless pursuit of revenge, intertwining personal motives with political maneuvering.
Characters to notice
- Edward Malia Butler
Drives the conference with vengeful intent, revealing Cowperwood's unauthorized loan and pushing for his punishment due to the affair with Aileen.
- Henry A. Mollenhauer
Confirms Butler's claims about the missing certificates, though his own plan to pressure Cowperwood for street-railway shares is undermined.
- Mark Simpson
Hosts the conference at his Rittenhouse Square home; sees Cowperwood as a useful scapegoat to deflect political damage before the election.
- Frank Algernon Cowperwood
Discussed as the central figure of the scandal; his unauthorized withdrawal of city funds and affair with Aileen make him a target for prosecution.
- George W. Stener
Implicated alongside Cowperwood in the treasury shortfall; Mollenhauer reports Stener's refusal to lend more funds and Cowperwood's subsequent unauthorized action.
Key passages
“The necessity of a final conference between Butler, Mollenhauer, and Simpson was speedily reached, for this situation was hourly growing more serious.”
A urgent meeting among the three political leaders became unavoidable as the crisis intensified by the hour.
Sets the stage for the high-stakes political negotiation.
“He was a serious and austere man—one of those solemn, self-righteous souls who see life through a peculiar veil of duty, and who, undisturbed by notable animal passions of any kind, go their way of upholding the theory of the Ten Commandments over the order of things as they are.”
Skelton C. Wheat was a stern, morally rigid reformer who prioritized abstract principles over practical realities.
Characterizes the reform association president as a foil to the pragmatic politicians.
“Well, that bein’ the case, I don’t see that there’s so much more we can do now; but I do think it will be a mistake if Cowperwood isn’t punished with the other one. He’s equally guilty with Stener, if not more so, and I for one want to see him get what he deserves. He belongs in the penitentiary, and that’s where he’ll go if I have my say.”
Butler insists that Cowperwood must face prison alongside Stener, revealing his personal vendetta behind the call for legal punishment.
Highlights Butler's shift from ally to vengeful enemy.