"I'll do it for you, sir," he said at the door. "You can depend on me for that."
"Thank you, James; and in the mean time it will be prudent for you to keep your information to yourself."
"Yes, sir; I'll do that, sir. Any one with a Tammany Hall education knows how to do that, sir."
Riley was anxiously awaiting the close of the interview, and eagerly accompanied his son to the front door. Before he opened it, the old man turned inquiringly.
"Ain't ye goin' ter tell me phwat it's all about, Jimmie?"
"It's too delicate a situation to discuss with the servants," James replied, freezingly. "Me and Mr. Gorham understands each other, that's all."
Riley gazed with still greater admiration at the straight figure which passed by him, out of the house, and up the gravel walk to the street.
"Jimmie's th' great man," he muttered to himself as he closed the door—"he's th' great man, mixin' wid men like Misther Robert; but he hadn't oughter wear that sorry rag an' th' ravens, wid me, his only livin' relation, still livin'."
The bell rang almost immediately, and Riley, certain that James had returned, hastened to throw the door open. As he did so, he discovered Allen Sanford.
"Who's that undertaker person?" Allen demanded.