The light in his cigar had gone out; he swung round and faced the map of Indiana above Morton Bassett’s desk, fumbling in his waistcoat for a match.  When he turned toward Harwood again he blew smoke rings meditatively before speaking.

“If you’re one of these rotten idealists, Harwood, what are you doing here with Bassett?  If that ain’t a fair question, don’t answer it.”

Harwood was taken aback by the directness of the question.  Bassett had always spoken of Thatcher with respect, and he resented the new direction given to this conversation in Bassett’s own office.  Dan straightened himself with dignity, but before he could speak Thatcher laughed, and fanned the smoke of his cigar away with his hands.

“Don’t get hot.  That was not a fair question; I know it.  I guess Bassett has his ideals just like the rest of us.  I suppose I’ve got some, too, though I’d be embarrassed if you asked me to name ’em.  I suppose”—­and he narrowed his eyes—­“I suppose Mort not only has his ideals but his ambitions.  They go together, I reckon.”

“I hope he has both, Mr. Thatcher, but you are assuming that I’m deeper in his confidence than the facts justify.  You and he have been acquainted so long that you ought to know him thoroughly.”

Thatcher did not heed this mild rebuke; nor did he resort to propitiatory speech.  His cool way of ignoring Dan’s reproach added to the young man’s annoyance; Dan felt that it was in poor taste and ungenerous for a man of Thatcher’s years and position to come into Bassett’s private office to discuss him with a subordinate.  He had already learned enough of the relations of the two men to realize that perfect amity was essential between them; he was shocked by the indifference with which Thatcher spoke of Bassett, of whom people did not usually speak carelessly in this free fashion.  Harwood’s own sense of loyalty was in arms; yet Thatcher seemed unmindful that anything disagreeable had occurred.  He threw away his cigar and drew out a fresh one which he wobbled about in his mouth unlighted.  He kept swinging round in his chair to gaze at the map above Bassett’s desk.  The tinted outlines of the map—­green, pink, and orange—­could not have had for him any novelty; similar maps hung in many offices and Thatcher was moreover a native of the state and long familiar with its configuration.  Perhaps, Dan reflected, its juxtaposition to Bassett’s desk was what irritated his visitor, though it had never occurred to him that this had any significance.  He recalled now, however, that when he had arranged the rooms the map had been hung in the outer office, but that Bassett himself had removed it to his private room—­the only change he had made in Dan’s arrangements.  It was conceivable that Thatcher saw in the position of the map an adumbration of Bassett’s higher political ambition, and that this had affected the capitalist unpleasantly.

Thatcher’s manner was that of a man so secure in his own position that he could afford to trample others under foot if he liked.  It was—­not to put too fine a point upon it—­the manner of a bully.  His reputation for independence was well established; he was rich enough to say what he pleased without regard to the consequences, and he undoubtedly enjoyed his sense of power.