she remarked. "You see, I have to get a reputation for being
smart and saying bright things, or nobody would ask me anywhere.
Penniless American young women are not too popular over here."

"Marry me, then," he suggested amiably. "I shall have plenty of
money some day."

"I'll see about it when you're grown up," she answered. "Just at
present, I think we'd better return to the subject of Hamilton
Fynes."

Mr. Richard Vanderpole sighed, but seemed not disinclined to
follow her suggestion.

"Harvey is a silent man, as you know," he said thoughtfully, "and
he keeps everything of importance to himself. At the same time
these little matters get about in the shop, of course, and I have
never heard of any despatches being brought across from
Washington except in the usual way. Presuming that you are
right," he added after a moment's pause, "and that this fellow
Hamilton Fynes really had something for us, that would account
for his being able to get off the boat and securing his special
train so easily. No one can imagine where he got the pull."

"It accounts, also," Penelope remarked, "for his murder!"

Her companion started.

"You haven't any idea--" he began.