“Yes,” said she.  “He was Consul-General to Colombia several years ago, and since then he has been to France and to Germany.”

“I thought you were tourists—­you have travelled so much.”

“Most of our journeys have been made at the expense of the Government.”

“Are you diplomatting now?”

“In a way.  We shall be in Panama for some time.”

“This Stein seems to be a nice fellow.  He’s taken quite a liking to me.”

Mrs. Cortlandt laughed lightly.  “That is part of his business.”

“How so?”

“He is one of Colonel Jolson’s secret agents.”

“Who is Colonel Jolson?”

“Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission.  Your father knows him.”

“Do you mean that Stein is a—­detective?” Kirk looked uncomfortable.

“I do!  Does he know you are the son of Darwin K. Anthony?”

“Why, yes, I suppose so.”

“Colonel Jolson will be interested.”

“Again I don’t see the point.”

“Your father is one of the most powerful and aggressive railroad men in the country.  Perhaps you know something about the railroad opposition to the canal?”

Kirk smiled.  “Well, to tell you the truth,” said he, “the governor doesn’t consult me about his business as much as he ought to.  He seems to think he can run it all right without me, and we’ve only been speaking over the telephone lately.”

“One of the strongest forces the Government had to combat in putting through the canal appropriations was the railroads.  Colonel Jolson has no reason to love your father.”

“Yes, but I don’t object to this canal.  I think it must be a rather good idea.”

Mrs. Cortlandt laughed for a second time.  “The Colonel’s dislike for your father will not affect you, inasmuch as you are returning so soon, but if you intended to stay it might be different.”

“In what way?”

“Oh, in many ways.  There are two classes of people who are not welcomed on the Canal Zone—­magazine writers and applicants for positions who have political influence back of them.  The former are regarded as muckrakers, the latter as spies.”

“That’s rather rough on them, isn’t it?”

“You must understand that there is a great big human machine behind the digging of this canal, and, while it is more wonderful by far than the actual machinery of iron and steel, it is subject to human weaknesses.  Men like Colonel Jolson, who form a part of it, are down here to make reputations for themselves.  They are handicapped and vexed by constant interference, constant jealousy.  It is a survival of the fittest, and I suppose they feel that they must protect themselves even if they use underhand means to do so.  It is so in all big work of this character, where the individual is made small.  You would find the same condition in your father’s railroad organization.”

“Oh, now!  My old man is a pretty tough citizen to get along with, but he wouldn’t hire detectives to spy on his employees.”