A moment later Murray recognized the voice of Illis's valet over the wire and greeted him by name. Another brief delay, and the capitalist himself was at the 'phone.
"Come right up," he said; and O'Neil replaced the receiver with a sigh of relief.
Illis greeted him warmly, for their relations had been close.
"Lucky you found me," he said. "I'm going back on the next sailing."
"Have you signed up with the Arctic Navigation Company?" Murray inquired; and the other started.
"Bless me! What do you mean?"
His caller laughed. "I see you haven't. I don't think you will, either, after you've talked with me."
Without the tremor of an eyelash Illis exclaimed:
"My word! What are you driving at?"
"That agreement over freight rates, of course."