“There’s Taylor,” I remarked, for I had seen him often at investigations before the Public Service Commission.

“And Vivian, too,” exclaimed Orton excitedly.  “Say, fellows, clear off these desks.  Quick, before she gets up here.  In the closet with these blueprints, Walter.  There, that’s a little better.  If I had known she was coming I would at least have had the place swept out.  Puff! look at the dust on this desk of mine.  Well, there’s no help for it.  There they are at the door now.  Why, ivian, what a surprise.”

“Jack!” she exclaimed, almost ignoring the rest of us and quickly crossing to his chair to lay a restraining hand on his shoulder as he vainly tried to stand up to welcome her.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” he asked eagerly.  “I would have had the place fixed up a bit.”

“I prefer it this way,” she said, looking curiously around at the samples of tunnel paraphernalia and the charts and diagrams on the walls.

“Yes, Orton,” said President Taylor, “she would come—­dropped in at the office and when I tried to excuse myself for a business appointment, demanded which way I was going.  When I said I was coming here, she insisted on coming, too.”

Orton smiled.  He knew that she had taken this simple and direct means of being there, but he said nothing, and merely introduced us to the president and Miss Taylor.

An awkward silence followed.  Orton cleared his throat.  “I think you all know why we are here,” he began.  “We have been and are having altogether too many accidents in the tunnel, too many cases of the bends, too many deaths, too many delays to the work.  Well—­ er—­I—­er—­Mr. Kennedy has something to say about them, I believe.”

No sound was heard save the vibration of the air-compressors and an occasional shout of a workman at the shaft leading down to the air-locks.

“There is no need for me to say anything about caisson disease to you, gentlemen, or to you, Miss Taylor,” began Kennedy.  “I think you all know how it is caused and a good deal about it already.  But, to be perfectly clear, I will say that there are five things that must, above all others, be looked after in tunnel work:  the air pressure, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, the length of the shifts which the men work, the state of health of the men as near as physical examination can determine it, and the rapidity with which the men come out of the ‘air,’ so as to prevent carelessness which may cause the bends.

“I find,” he continued, “that the air pressure is not too high for safety.  Proper examinations for carbon dioxide are made, and the amount in the air is not excessive.  The shifts are not even as long as those prescribed by the law.  The medical inspection is quite adequate and as for the time taken in coming out through the locks the rules are stringent.”

A look of relief crossed the face of Orton at this commendation of his work, followed by a puzzled expression that plainly indicated that he would like to know what was the matter, if all the crucial things were all right.