“It isn’t that. It’s just the way the thing was described to me. Okay, Paul, on your way.”

“How many men shall I turn loose on this thing?”

“All you need to get results in a hurry.”

“Any limit on expenses?”

“No limit,” Mason said. “This is my party.”

“What’s the idea? Getting benevolent?”

“No. I fell for a lame canary and what I thought was a mystery. This is what comes of it.”

“Sounds like a goofy case,” Drake said, pivoting around in the chair and getting to his feet.

“It is.”

“Okay. You want me to report by telephone?”