But Mr. Moddridge! His face was positively wreathed in smiles. All his fears seemed to have vanished. The smaller man was still nervous, but it was the agitation of intense joy.
“It’s all right, Halstead,” beamed Mr. Delavan.
“I suppose it must be, sir,” smiled the youthful skipper.
“Why, I’m trying not to be, as, of course, it’s none of my business.”
“Of course it isn’t,” laughed Mr. Moddridge, uneasily. “But what wouldn’t he give to know, Delavan?”
“Why, I can give you a hint or two,” smiled the big, good-natured man.
“Don’t you say anything,” protested Moddridge, paling.
“Nonsense,” laughed Mr. Delavan. “Halstead, did you notice one man who stood at the rail of the big craft? A man tall and very broad-shouldered, a man of seventy, with considerable of a stoop, but with the nose and eyes that make one think of an eagle? His clothes fitted him loosely. He isn’t what you’d call a man of fashion, but a man whom, once you saw him, you’d never forget.”
“And at his right hand stood a man who looked like a clergyman?” inquired Halstead.
“I see you marked the man. Do you know who he is?”
“No, sir, though I’m sure I’ve seen his portrait in the newspapers.”
“H’m! I guess you have,” chuckled Mr. Delavan. “Well, that’s Gordon, the great man in the steel world, the colossal banker, the man who lends nations money.”
“You didn’t make this trip just to make sure that he was aboard?” Tom hazarded.
“Of course not, captain. I had that information days ago, by cable. But Gordon has been doing big things abroad, things that will rouse the world’s market and shake fortunes up or down. By to-morrow morning Wall Street will be seething, just on guesses as to what Gordon has done in Paris and what speculations he’ll make, now that he has returned.”
“Delavan!” cried Moddridge, sharply. “I protest. Not another word.”
“Nonsense!” retorted the big man, cheerily. “Halstead, whoever makes the right guess as to what big money deals Gordon has arranged abroad can make barrels of money in Wall Street during the next two or three days. Those who guess wrong will lose their money. Money will be made, and money will be lost in Wall Street, during the next few days—all on guessing which way Gordon’s cat jumped in Paris.”