“It would have to be done quickly, dad. They may quarantine at any time.”
“Dr. Pruyn ought to be here any day now. Let’s leave that matter for him. There’s a man I have confidence in.”
“Mr. Perkins says that Dr. Pruyn will bottle up the port tighter than the Dutch.”
“Let him, so long as we get out first. Now, Polly, you tell this man Perkins that I’ll pay all expenses and give him a round hundred for himself if he’ll bring me a receipt showing that my cablegram has been dispatched to Washington.”
“I don’t think I’d quite like to do that, dad. He isn’t the sort of man one offers money to.”
“Every one’s the sort of man one offers money to—if it’s enough,” retorted her father. “And a hundred dollars will look pretty big to a scientific man. I know something about their salaries. You try him.”
“So far as expenses go, I will. But I won’t hurt his feelings by trying to pay him for something that he would do for friendship or not at all.”
“Have it your own way. When is he coming in?”
“He isn’t coming in.”
“Then where are you going to see him?”