Porter recovered first. "No intrusion, Mr. West. We had just finished our
business."

McNally took the cue quickly.

"Mr. West?" he said interrogatively.

Harvey bowed.

"I will be at your service in a moment. Excuse me."

Wing and Thompson had already taken the hint, and were moving toward the
door. Porter hung back, conversing in low tones with McNally. Then he
bowed to West and followed the others. McNally gathered up the papers on
the table, folded them, and put them in his pocket.

"Please sit down, Mr. West. What can I do for you? Wait a moment, though.
Won't you smoke?" He held out his cigar case to Harvey, who took one
gladly. Lighting it would give him a moment more to think, and thinking
was necessary, for he didn't know what McNally could do for him. But
McNally seemed to be doing his best to help him out.

"Don't you think it very warm here?" he said, as Harvey struck a match.
"Something cool to drink would go pretty well. If you'll excuse me for a
moment more I'll go down and see about getting it," and without waiting
for a reply, McNally put on his silk hat and stepped out into the
corridor.

"He certainly seems friendly," thought Harvey, as the footfalls diminished
along the floor, and then he puzzled over what he should say when McNally