"I think I have been attending to it, Judge." "Where have you been?" "Several places. To-night I’ve been to that mass-meeting in Cooper Union." "Yes. Was there much enthusiasm?" "A great deal." "Spontaneous? Genuine?" "Partly." "And the tone of the speech?" Mr. Irwin went at some length into that side of the subject. He read excerpts from his notes. It was evident that, since the afternoon when his senior partner had first discussed Huber with him, necessity, had forced a greater degree of confidence. The present conversation continued for several minutes. No eavesdropper, unless previously acquainted with the facts of the case, could have gathered much from it, but it was intelligent and significant to the principals. At its end, Stein said: "There is very little time left us, and this young man means us to understand that he will keep his word. The people for whom we are acting are rather importunate, Mr. Irwin. They are not satisfied; not at all satisfied; and I’ve already had to extend to you the time-limit I first gave you. I have received instructions to the effect that we must act at once." "Yes, sir." "You understand?" "I understand." "At once." "All right, Judge." "That had better mean to-night." "I’ll do my best." "I think you had better, Mr. Irwin. I sha’n’t be going to bed for two or three hours yet." §5. Irwin left the telephone and hailed the first taxicab that passed. It was free, and he had himself driven to a political club with quarters not far from the office of Anson Quirk. The quarters were over a saloon in Second Avenue. The entrance was a hallway and a stairway back of the saloon. Here Irwin rang a bell, which was immediately answered by a man in his shirt-sleeves. "Mr. Quirk upstairs?" "No," said the man. He eyed the questioner sullenly in the twilight of the hall. "I don’t think he is," he added. Irwin took a card from his pocket. He placed it in a blank envelope, sealed the envelope, and handed it to the doorkeeper. "Give him this," he said, and stepped back into the street to wait. The man closed the door upon him. It was presently reopened by Quirk, his round face smiling, his manner jovial. "Hello," said Quirk. "It’s time good little boys were in bed, but I’m glad to see you, anyhow. Come in and have a drink." "No, thank you," Irwin replied. "I’ll be back here in two hours. There’s something you’ve got to do in the meantime." "Me? Now?" "You; right away. We’ve been too slow about that little business, Quirk. We can’t stand them off much longer. There’s not much more time for delay, and the people higher up want to be shown action." "Want to see the goods, do they?" chuckled Quirk. He rattled some coins in the pocket under his round abdomen. "Yes." "Well, what do they want me to do?" "Show the goods, I guess." "Any suggestions?" "No, that’s up to you."