Delavan and his young employes went to one of the famous restaurants nearby. They were followed by several brokers who wanted more information, but Francis Delavan engaged a private room at the restaurant, and thus barred out all intrusion.
“Now,” proposed the host, “we can put in at least a couple of good hours if we eat slowly.”
“Can you spare all that time, sir?” inquired Dawson.
“Why, bless you, boy, I could spare the day, if I had to,” laughed Mr. Delavan. “The fight is up to Coggswell and his aides. There’s nothing I can do now.”
“Are you going to ’phone any word to Mr. Moddridge?” asked Captain Halstead.
“What’s the use? We’re a long way from out of the woods, yet, and poor Moddridge, on any uncertain news, would only go worse to pieces. Now, boys, please don’t even think of the word business until we’re out of this place.”
It was after two o’clock when they left the restaurant. Mr. Delavan was smoking a cigar as they stepped to the sidewalk. At the curb stood an automobile that he had ordered by ’phone.
“We’ll just drop down to ’Change,” announced their employer. “You can wait outside, if you wish, until I get an idea how the market is going.”
When Mr. Delavan again joined them before the Stock Exchange Building the confident smile had not left his face.