"A leaf in the whirlpool.--Anyhow, we'll keep him here until he's on his
feet. By the way, never answer any telephone call--I mean, go anywhere
on a call--unless you are sure of the speaker."
"I begin to feel important."
"You are important. You have suddenly become a connecting link between
this Karlov and the man we wish to protect. I'll confess I wanted you
out of that apartment at first; but when I saw that you were bent on
remaining, I decided to make use of you."
"You are going to give me a part in the play?"
"Yes. You are to go about your affairs as always, just as if nothing had
happened. Only when you wish to come here will you play any game like
that of to-day. Then it will be advisable. Switch your route each time.
Your real part is to be that of lure. Through you we shall gradually
learn who Karlov's associates are. If you don't care to play the role
all you have to do is to move."
"The idea! I'm grateful for anything. You men will never understand.
You go forth into the world each day--politics, diplomacy, commerce,
war--while we women stay at home and knit or darn socks or take care of
the baby or make over our clothes and hats or do household work or
play the piano or read. Never any adventure. Never any games. Never any
clubs. The leaving your house to go to the office is an adventure. A
train from here to Philadelphia is an adventure. We women are always
craving it. And about all we can squeeze out of life is shopping and
hiding the bills after marriage, and going to the movies before marriage
with young men our fathers don't like. We can't even stroll the street
and admire the handsome gowns of our more fortunate sisters the way you
men do. When you see a pretty woman on the street do you ever stop to
think that there are ten at home eating their hearts out? Of course you
don't. So I'm going through with this, to satisfy suppressed instincts;
and I shan't promise to trot along as usual."
"They may attempt to kidnap you, Kitty."
"That doesn't frighten me."
"So I observe. But if they ever should have the luck to kidnap you, tell
all you know at once. There's only one way up here--the elevator. I can
get out to the fire escape, but none can get in from that direction, as
the door is of steel."