"A very simple one, but one that must be very shrewdly handled. It will mean that you and some of your friends will have to make a trip to Philadelphia. Where shall I be able to call you within a day or two?"
"At Stroob's lodging house, in Avenue B."
"Very well. Be prepared to act on short notice."
"I'll stick close to the place, sir."
"And, Wrentz, understand that you are also to act firmly. No
Balthazar, tactics. I'm through being tricked."
"I'm sure I never failed you, sir," said Wrentz, with an aggrieved air.
Owen smiled. "True, but temptation occasionally leads even the most honest of men astray," he said, sarcastically.
While this last plot was being hatched Pauline and Harry were playing chess in the library. As she checkmated him for the third time he arose in mock disgust.
"They say chess is a perfect mental test. I wonder who is the brains of this family now?" she taunted.
"There's a difference between brains and hare-brains. You know, I lost because I had that Chicago thing on my mind."