However, it was his business to fathom all this mystery at once. An idealist was a blind ass-look at Perry! Penn did not rest well that first night after the problem play, nor for many nights to come. One morning a question of law came up at the office that made it expedient that one of the firm should go at once to Washington to consult a supreme authority, and Robert was sent, that he might have the benefit of even that small change of scene.

He rushed home to throw a few things into a bag and kiss his wife and Betty good-by. He opened the front door with his latchkey as usual, and as usual called out: "Helen, where are you?" There was a low cry, the shuffle of feet across a hardwood floor, the bang of a door closed quickly, and then in a voice toned to sudden _insouciance_ and overdoing it: "Here I am, Rob, in the library." He stood frozen stiff for an instant, as his legal experience whispered to him all the possibilities hidden in those few sounds.