And it proved effective uttered by Felicity. For it fooled Perry. Fooled him badly just when he had begun to speculate a little concerning her soul himself. Perry believed her. But then it is easy for any woman to fool any man. Twice as easy when he wants so badly to be fooled.
Perry cursed his lack of ready money. And then Dunham sent for him. And he went, hiding his eagerness.
They held the conversation in Dunham's book-lined office. The books were never used; the office saw strange usage. And the conference was short.
"Ready to be a good boy?" Dunham asked.
Perry rose to leave.
"Sit down," said Dunham. "That was intended as a joke. My mistake."
But it angered him; angered him almost as much as it did to look upon the boy's unsquandered youth.
"I've got something for you at last," he offered. "If you care to take it."
"I'll listen," said Perry.
So Dunham drew readily upon invention.