?" with beaming eyes. "I knew it would appeal to you,
as an American."

"What does it all mean?"

"It's all very simple, if one looks at it from the right angle, Brock.
Up to last night, I was blissfully committed to the most delightful of
outings, so to speak. At ten o'clock everything was changed. Mrs.
Medcroft and I sat up all night discussing the situation with the
messenger--my solicitor, by the way. The Vienna trip is out of the
question, so far as I am concerned. It is of vital importance that I
should return to London to-night, but is even more vitally important
that the world should say that I am in Vienna. See what I mean?"

"No, I'm hanged if I do."

"What I have just heard from London makes me shudder to think of the
consequences if I go on east to-night. I may as well tell you that there
is a plot on foot to perpetrate a gigantic fraud against the people. The
County Council is to be hoodwinked out and out into moving forward
certain building projects, involving millions of the people's money. Our
firm has opposed a certain band of grafters, and when I left England it
was pretty well settled that we had blocked their game. They have
learned of my proposed absence and intend to steal a march on us while I
am away. Without assuming too much credit to myself, I may say that I,
your old friend, Roxbury, I am the one man who has proved the real thorn
in the sides of these scoundrels. With me out of the way, they feel that
they can secure the adoption of all these infamous measures. My partners
and the leaders on our side have sent for me to return secretly. They
won't bring the matter to issue if they find that I've returned; it
would be suicidal. Therefore it is necessary that we steal a march on
'em. I know the inside workings of the scheme. If I can steal back and
keep under cover as an advisory chief, so to speak, we can well afford
to let 'em rush the matter through, for then we can spring the coup and
defeat them for good and all. But, don't you see, old man, unless they
_know_ that I've gone to Vienna they won't undertake the thing. That's
why I'm asking you to go on to Vienna and pose as Roxbury Medcroft
while I steal back to London and set the charge under these demmed
bloodsuckers. Really, you know, it's a terribly serious matter, Brock.
It means fortune and honour to me, as well as millions to the
rate-payers of Greater London. All you've got to do is to register at
the Bristol, get interviewed by