It always seemed to Montague that it could not be possible for a human face to wear a brighter shade of purple than the Major’s; yet every time he met him, it seemed to him that the purple was a shade brighter.  And it spread farther with every step the Major took.  He growled and grumbled, and swore tremendous oaths under his breath, and the way the headwaiter and all his assistants scurried about the dining-room of the Club was a joy to the beholder.

Montague waited until the old gentleman had obtained his usual dry Martini, and until he had solved the problem of satisfying his appetite and his doctor.  And then he told of his extraordinary experience.

“I felt sure that you could explain it, if anybody could,” said he.

“But what is there to explain?” asked the other.  “It simply means that Jim Hegan is interested in your railroad.  What more could you want?”

“But he sent a detective after me!” gasped Montague.

“But that’s all right,” said the Major.  “It is done every day.  There are a half dozen big agencies that do nothing else.  You are lucky if he hasn’t had your telephone tapped, and read your telegrams and mail before you saw them.”

Montague stared at him aghast.  “A man like Jim Hegan!” he exclaimed.  “And to a friend.”

“A friend?” said the Major.  “Pshaw!  A man doesn’t do business with friends.  And, besides, Jim Hegan probably never knew anything about it.  He turned the whole matter over to some subordinate, and told him to look it up, and he’ll never give another thought to it until the facts are laid upon his desk.  Some one of his men set to work, and he was a little clumsy about it—­that’s all.”

“But why did he want to know about all my family affairs?”

“Why, he wanted to know how you were situated,” said the other—­“how badly you wanted to sell the stock.  So when he came to do business with you, he’d have you where he wanted you, and he’d probably get fifty per cent off the price because of it.  You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t have a few loans called on you at your bank.”

The Major sat watching Montague, smiling at his naivete.  “Where did you say this road was?” he asked.  “In Mississippi?”

“Yes,” said Montague.

“I was wondering about it,” said the other.  “It is not likely that it’s Jim Hegan at all.  I don’t believe anybody could get him to take an interest in Southern railroads.  He has probably mentioned it to someone else.  What’s your road good for, anyway?”

“We had a plan to extend it,” said Montague.

“It would take but one or two millions to carry it to the main works of the Mississippi Steel Company.”

The Major gave a start.  “The Mississippi Steel Company!” he exclaimed.

“Yes,” said Montague.

“Oh, my God!” cried the other.

“What is the matter?”

“Why in the world did you take a matter like that to Jim Hegan?” demanded Major Venable.