The two had lunch, talking meanwhile about the coming events in Society, and about politics and wars; and when the coffee was served and they were alone in the room, Harvey settled his big frame back in his chair, and began:— “In the first place,” he said, “I must explain that I’ve something to say that is devilish hard to get into. I’m so much afraid of your jumping to a wrong conclusion in the middle of it—I’d like you to agree to listen for a minute or two before you think at all.” “All right,” said Montague, with a smile. “Fire away.” And at once the other became grave. “You’ve taken a case against this company,” he said. “And Ollie has talked enough to me to make me understand that you’ve done a plucky thing, and that you must be everlastingly sick of hearing from cowardly people who want you to drop it. I’d be very sorry to be classed with them, for even a moment; and you must understand at the outset that I haven’t a particle of interest in the company, and that it wouldn’t matter to me if I had. I don’t try to use my friends in business, and I don’t let money count with me in my social life. I made up my mind to take the risk of speaking to you about this case, simply because I happen to know one or two things about it that I thought you didn’t know. And if that’s so, you are at a great disadvantage; but in any case, please understand that I have no motive but friendship, and so if I am butting in, excuse me.” When Siegfried Harvey talked, he looked straight at one with his clear blue eyes, and there was no doubting his honesty. “I am very much obliged to you,” said Montague. “Pray tell me what you have to say.” “All right,” said the other. “It can be done very quickly. You have taken a case which involves a great many sacrifices upon your part. And I wondered if it had ever occurred to you to ask whether you might not be taken advantage of?” “How do you mean?” asked Montague. “Do you know the people who are behind you?” inquired the other. “Do you know them well enough to be sure what are their motives in the case?” Montague hesitated, and thought. “No,” he said, “I couldn’t say that I do.” “Then it’s just as I thought,” replied Harvey. “I’ve been watching you—you are an honest man, and you’re putting yourself to no end of trouble from the best of motives. And unless I’m mistaken, you’re being used by men who are not honest, and whom you wouldn’t work with if you knew their purposes.” “What purposes could they have?” “There are several possibilities. In the first place, it might be a ‘strike’ suit—somebody who is hoping to be bought off for a big price. That is what nearly every one thinks is the case. But I don’t; I think it’s more likely some one within the company who is trying to put the administration in a hole.” “Who could that be?” exclaimed Montague, amazed.