“No, sir,” replied Francis, briskly.
“You have heard of an organization called the Garrick Players, haven’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, Francis, do you suppose you could undertake a little piece of detective work for me, and handle it intelligently and quietly?”
“I think so,” said Francis, who was the pink of perfection this morning in a brown suit, garnet tie, and sard sleeve-links. His shoes were immaculately polished, and his young, healthy face glistened.
“I’ll tell you what I want you to do. There is a young actress, or amateur actress, by the name of Stephanie Platow, who frequents the studio of an artist named Cross in the New Arts Building. She may even occupy it in his absence—I don’t know. I want you to find out for me what the relations of Mr. Gurney and this woman are. I have certain business reasons for wanting to know.”
Young Kennedy was all attention.
“You couldn’t tell me where I could find out anything about this Mr. Gurney to begin with, could you?” he asked.
“I think he is a friend of a critic here by the name of Gardner Knowles. You might ask him. I need not say that you must never mention me.
“Oh, I understand that thoroughly, Mr. Cowperwood.” Young Kennedy departed, meditating. How was he to do this? With true journalistic skill he first sought other newspaper men, from whom he learned—a bit from one and a scrap from another—of the character of the Garrick Players, and of the women who belonged to it. He pretended to be writing a one-act play, which he hoped to have produced.