"Well, it—it——Why, Penny, they've stolen Geneviève! That damned Mike and the Armenian! They've got Geneviève with that Eliot woman! God——Why, Penny, for God's sake, what——"
"Slowly, George—slowly. Let's move carefully."
The voice of Penfield Evans was cool and steady,
"First of all, we need not worry about any harm coming to Geneviève. She is with Miss Eliot, and that woman has more sense than a man. She may be depended upon. Now, then," Evans waved his partner to silence and went on: "the next thing to consider is how much publicity we shall give this episode." He paused.
"It's not a matter of publicity; it's a matter of getting Geneviève immediately."
"An hour or so of publicity of the screaming, hysterical kind will not help us to find Geneviève. But when we do find her, our publicity will have defeated you!"
The two men stared at each other. Remington said: "You mean I must shield the organization!"
"If you are to be elected—yes!"
"Do you think Geneviève and Miss Eliot would consent to shield the organization when we find them? Why, Penny, you're mad! We must call up the chief of police! We must scour the country! I propose to go right to the newspapers! The more people who know of this dastardly thing the sooner we shall recover the victims!"
"And the sooner Noonan, when he comes home tonight, will denounce you as an accessory before the fact, with Norton and Doolittle as corroborating witnesses for him! Oh, you're learning politics fast, George!"