“He nodded.
“I hae some information he did so this morning, but I opine the Mayor will be letting him out this night to run the plant, or Portate will be dark again.'
“'On account,' I questioned, 'of there being no train that would get you to Por-tate before ten?'
“'Your penetration is no sma' matter, doctor,' he said. 'It's working well.'
“'It's a wild thing, Mr. Jamison,' I continued, after some thought, 'a frivolous intelligence, a restless and turbulent member. Its mad quest after information is always making me trouble. It wants to know now how you and the Superintendent of The Transport Company happen to be so willing, not to say eager, to get into collusion with these corrupt and debt-dodging municipal thieves in Portate, and thereby to spoil Kirby's most enlivening and pleasant stratagem for collecting a just debt. It wants to know whether Kirby's being in jail is any personal gratification to either of you gentlemen.'
“He broke into a dry but not unkindly laugh.
“'No personal, doctor. Kirby is a good man. Oo—a wee bit hasty and cocksure, but he's only a lad. But your penetration is doing well. I'm thinking it might better go on.'
“'On your suggestion, it will,' I assented. 'The Transport Company and The Union Electric are rivals presumably. Presumably, then, the former has no objection to winning favour with the authorities at the expense of the latter. Waiving the question of fairness or morality——'
“'Aye, better waive 'em,' said Jamison, drily.
“'Waiving them entirely,' I said, 'The Transport Company seems to be in line with prosperity at the present moment.'