"Good Lord! What are you talking about? They wouldn't dream of accepting. Besides, I thought you wanted me to go with you."
"You could offer them diversion in the shape of a theatrical entertainment. Your friends, the Thespians, would be only too happy to disport themselves in return for all your—"
"It would be useless, Mr. Sprouse. They will not come."
"I am perfectly aware of that, but it won't do any harm to ask them, will it?"
Barnes chuckled. "I see. Establishing myself as an innocent bystander, eh?"
"Get O'Dowd on the telephone and ask him if they can come," said Sprouse. "Incidentally, you might test his love for Miss Cameron while you are about it."
"How?" demanded Barnes.
"By asking him to call her to the telephone. Would you be sure to recognise her voice?"
"I'd know it in Babel," said the other with some fervour.
"Well, if she comes to the 'phone and speaks to you without restraint, we may be reasonably certain of two things: that O'Dowd is friendly and that he is able to fix it so that she can talk to you without being overheard or suspected by the others. It's worth trying, in any event."