“Yes.” And we shook hands. He was obviously perplexed and stood fingering Siegel’s card.
“I’m afraid I’ve puzzled you; but for the moment Siegel and I have changed personalities. It’s a queer show. But he’s in prison and I’m here to tell you all about it.”
Marvyn was never a very demonstrative man and his diplomatic training had increased his capacity for self-restraint. But my quiet statement was too much for him. He went back to his seat, and as I drew a chair close to his table, he stared at me, his thin sallow face all lines of surprise, and letting out a long breath in a sort of mixed sigh and whistle he exclaimed—
“Well, I’m gormed.”
I remembered his expression at Harvard.
“I haven’t heard that since you left Harvard,” I said, with a smile.
“But what does it all mean? What are you doing here? How is that—here, show me.”
“It means a most infernal mess, which can all soon be put right, however, if I can keep my head and you can keep my secret.”
“My dear Denver, I’ll do anything in the world for you. It was your father got me into this, you know. But is it official?”
“It’s a bit of everything, I think. But you give me your word not to repeat anything I tell you?”