“But what can it be?”
“Let me think. Do you suppose you could get hold of this uncle of yours?”
“I suppose he'll have left his address with my mother.”
“Well, we'll have to be quick, before the army people grab him.”
“What do you want to do with him?”
“First, we'll have a talk with him and see what his ideas are, and how much he knows. Then I thought it might be well to take him to Colonel House, and possibly to the President.”
Lanny could only stare, wondering if he had heard aright.
“You see,” explained his chief, noting his expression, “there are two ways to deal with social discontent — one is to throw it into jail and the other is to try to understand it. The President has had to do some of the former under the stress of war, but I'm sure that in his heart he much prefers understanding. Right now, I happen to know that he's deadlocked with the French over the question of what's to be done about Russia. Can you keep a really important secret?”
“I've been keeping a lot of them, Professor.”
“I had a tip this morning which I believe to be straight — that the President is thinking of moving for a conference with the Bolsheviks at some neutral place. So you see, it might be in order for Colonel House or someone who represents him to get in touch with these people, to find out what their attitude would be. Do you suppose you could find your uncle today?”