Jimmie, for some reason, chose to give no information whatever on this question. And Halloran had the questionable pleasure of bidding him good-evening in the consciousness that he was no nearer what he wanted to know than he had been in Wauchung. The next step was a matter of careful thinking; he was not even sure that there could be a next step. Meantime, he had an errand at the Le Ducs', and as it was not yet eight o'clock he decided to run up there. The great event had taken place in the Le Duc household. And when Halloran was shown into the apartment, he found a happy father in his shirt-sleeves dancing about a small white bundle on the sofa, a beaming mother also in dishabille, and a simpering nurse-maid. Apples was cordial, merry, expansive; he was delighted to see his old friend Halloran--fairly dragged him in. Good stories and playful allusions were continually rising in his mind and finding expression. He was boisterously demonstrative, and given to squeezing his wife's hand or slipping his arm around her as his tongue rattled along. Halloran delivered his message and his bundle, and finally, when he had been made to say all that there is to be said about some other man's infant, the mother and nurse took it away and left the two men to smoke and chat. After a time there came a pause. And then an idea that had been floating in Halloran's mind since his disappointment with Jimmie took sudden form. “How do you like working with Bigelow?” he asked, without the slightest change of expression, knocking the ash off his cigar as he spoke. And Apples took the bait. “First rate. He's a driver, but he's got a great head on him.” “Yes, I know. I used to work for him myself, out in Evanston. I don't believe he has ever done much on the Board before this deal.” “No, I don't think he has.” A peculiar expression was coming into Le Due's face. “Who told you about it?” he asked. “Oh, I've always known more or less of his movements. He was hit rather hard in Kentucky Coal a little while back, but I suppose this corner will more than square that, if it goes through.” Le Duc smiled. “Don't you worry about that. I guess that coal business is nothing he can't stand. A momentary change of opinion doesn't alter the fact that there's just as much coal there as there ever was.” “I suppose there is--just as much.” Le Duc was looking not quite comfortable. “Of course,” he began, “there are times with every man whose interests are spread out widely----” But this wouldn't do. He was blundering deeper and deeper into some sort of a trap, and not wholly grasping the situation, he decided to keep still.