"But what has that to do with Monte Carlo, sir?" I ventured to ask.
"Good old Martha! Go up one," said grandpapa.
Then Mr. Montague turned to me and answered my question.
"I expected you would ask that, Miss Dolphin, and I gladly explain. Monte Carlo is the headquarters of this pestilential passion, this love of gambling which dominates mankind. We are going to begin a crusade there, and fight against the most powerful troops the enemy has at command."
"That's so! I'm planking down a thousand; and we're goin' to play a big game and make some of 'em hop, and wish they had never been born," said grandpapa.
"In other and more seemly words, Miss Dolphin, we design to crush Monte Carlo, to wipe that blot from the fair face of France. The gambling hell shall be no more; treachery, falsehood, knavery shall cease out of the land."
"And we'll come home with flags flying, in a triumphal car drawn by oof-birds," said grandpapa.
"That, of course, is a circumstance incidental to the scheme," explained Mr. Montague to me. "You do not understand your brother, naturally enough, but what he means is that a large sum of money will accrue to us. With this wealth we shall develop my system, and place it within the reach of the misguided speculators of all countries."
Grandpapa exploded with noisy laughter, and patted Mr. Montague on the back.
"Why not do so first?" I asked. "Why not publish this great discovery at once in the papers?"