"Well, if they don't, they will know peas, which will do just as well," replied Pelham.
"It would not be pleasant for me to have them know peas, when they ought to know beans."
"We will give them P.P. as a clew to the whole thing."
"P.P.? That means P's, I suppose."
"It means that, and more. P. for Pelham, and P. for peas. If they get one right, they can't very well get the other wrong."
"That's true," answered Shuffles, silenced, rather than convinced, by the tactics of his fellow-conspirator.
It was settled that he who knew peas must certainly "know beans."
"When shall the fellows vote?" asked Shuffles.
"After dinner to-morrow afternoon. Every fellow will be off duty an hour in the first or second dog watch," replied Pelham, who seemed to have an answer ready for every question. "The polls shall be kept open till eight o'clock. The peas and beans shall be distributed before eight bells in the forenoon watch, so that every fellow will be ready to vote."
"Where will Grossbeck stand when he receives the ballots?"