Every Saturday afternoon, certain of Sherwood Mayo's business acquaintances appeared at the Cobalt Club. Delmuth wanted to speak to one of them. He wanted to be overheard when he spoke. His plan worked while he was lunching in the grill room. He waved in greeting to George Masters, one of the men who was associated with Mayo in the Purple Blossom enterprise.
Masters smiled sourly, but he stopped at Delmuth's table. Knowing Mayo's antagonism toward Delmuth, Masters wanted to avoid lengthy conversation.
"Your boss in town?" quizzed Delmuth.
"Yes," replied Masters. "He came in at noon. He's going back to the country this evening."
"Ah! A quick business trip."
"No. He just brought a couple of friends down with him. They're going back for the week-end. There wasn't any reason for Mayo being here."
"Glad to know that," said Delmuth testily. "Give him my regards when you see him."
There were many club members in the grill room when Delmuth spoke. He talked loud enough to be overheard, and hoped that the right party had listened to his words.
What Masters had said was not news to Delmuth. He knew where Sherwood Mayo was -
he had learned it with the second call that he had received in the office.