"Nevertheless, I have made a decision. A hundred thousand points—that's nothing." His head was high. "I'm going after a million points!"
Penelope gasped. "Mark, you mustn't do anything like that. You have no use for a million points."
"No," Mark said complacently, "but it's a lot of fun getting them. And it gives me something worth while to do. We'll sit up till three o'clock every morning and play bridge, and I'll stay in bed till noon, and dream up new stunts. I'll pull one a week. Life is going to be worth living."
The announcing light showed at the door. Penelope pressed the admittance button. A tall, thin man came in a moment later. "Mark Renner?" he asked.
Mark jumped. "Conley!" Mark's stomach had a funny feeling in it.
"They told me I would find you here," Conley said.
Penelope had recovered enough to gasp. "What do you want?"
"I'm from Central Audit Bureau."
"That's just lovely," Penelope said, "but it doesn't mean anything to us but a place where we get our cards balanced."
"It should mean something to you," Conley said hollowly. "Central is the government."