<br><br><center>*We are all humiliated by the sudden discovery of a fact which has existed very comfortably and perhaps been staring at us in private while we've been making up our world entirely without it.
― George Eliot*
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<br><br>Father Breton wasn't surprised to see me. I wondered if he got wind of Warren's plans and expected my visit. 

I was tempted to ask, but didn't―I knew he had a network of contacts within the university―some might call them informants, but I steered clear of that side of campus politics.

Breton would tell me if I needed to know and what I needed to know, of that I could be certain.

<br><br> "Let's take our tea outside on the verandah," he suggested, "it's such a lovely fall day."

Obviously he was in a good mood so I doubted he suspected any dire events looming on the horizon.

"So, I suppose after our last conversation, you have questions about your heritage?"

"I do have a few questions about it, but that wasn't what brought me here, Father. Warren McQuade is pressuring me to back away from the *Student Voices* movement and he brought in Gordon Grayson to intimidate me."

<br><br> Breton broke into his usual toothy grin. "Did he, and were you intimidated?"

I was a little taken back by Breton's flippant manner. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this.

"Not really," I muttered, "but then I began thinking I should get your take on this. You know campus politics is not my strong suit and I wanted to make sure I wasn't under-reacting to what might be a serious threat."

"Oh, I don't think you have to worry about that duo―they're paper tigers―more wrapped up in numbers and percentages than reality. They're businessmen, not academics and don't know the first thing about running a university."

<br><br> "But Grayson told me if I alienate Ward Blackwell, a prominent donor, I could end up out of a job."

The old priest waved off my fear as if it were a pesky fly disturbing his teatime.

"Ward Blackwell may be prominent but is by no means a major donor. Grayson simply agrees with him because he doesn't want to lose any financial support. But a man like Blackwell is more trouble than he's worth. He over-inflates his net worth and influence and is basically back at the turn of the century in his thinking." 

<br><br>I tried to push back on Breton's dismissive attitude.

"They gave me the impression Blackwell's financial support was keeping certain programs afloat."

"Nonsense." Breton scoffed, "the value of Blackwell industries is plummeting because he refuses to keep abreast with the latest innovations in automotive technology. The man is a blowhard. You can ignore him and threats from McQuade and Grayson too. This trio is   out of touch with where society is heading. They are, as a sociologist might assess them, downward moving mobiles―in other words, losers." 

<br><br>I guess I don't know anything about future planning or funding," I sighed.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Breton chided, "you're going to play a larger role in this area than this inept trio."

How's that?" I asked, perplexed at how he could be so confident.

"It may surprise you, Jake, to know your father is one of the university's largest donors. He realized as he was nearing the end of his life he had wasted his time on worthless pursuits. What good is money and power? As Big Daddy says in *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*, you can't buy back your life with money, once your life is over. That's the one commodity not for sale on the financial markets. So, he meant to do some good with it before he died."

<br><br>"My father is one of the largest donors?" I gasped in amazement.

Breton nodded. "Warren knows that and that's why his attempt to control you is so appalling.  Warren McQuade is a petty man trying to exert what little power he has to bend you to do his bidding. It's infuriating because he's hurting not helping the cause of education."

"I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes."

<br><br>"Well," Breton smiled, "in a matter of months when you turn thirty, you will inherit all of your father's power and wealth and when you wield it, Warren McQuade's influence will be insignificant in comparison."

It was a watershed event for me. I knew I was going to inherit my father's estate but the full significance of what that meant eluded me until this very moment when Breton laid it all out for me.

Warren and Grayson weren't calling the shots―I was. And my job wasn't in jeopardy―theirs was.




<br><br> <center>To be continued…</center>

<br><center>© 2023, John J Geddes. All rights reserved</center>

<br><center>[Photo](https://images.app.goo.gl/2NKh2unDKupkdTw38)</center>