"What the devil was our row about?"

"Can't quite recall."

"Whatever it was it was the way you went at it."

"A reform was never yet accomplished by purring and pussyfooting," said
Cutty.

"Come over and sit down. Now, how the devil did you find out about this
Gregory affair?" The banker held out his hand, which Cutty grasped with
honest pressure. "If you are here in the capacity of a newspaper man,
not a word out of me. Have a cigar?"

"I never smoke anything but pipes that ruin curtains. You should have
given your name to Miss Conover."

"I was under promise not to explain my business. But before we proceed,
an answer. Newspaper?"

"No. I represent the Department of Justice. And we'll get along easier
when I add that I possess rather unlimited powers under that head. How
did you happen to stumble into this affair?"

"Through Captain Rathbone, my prospective son-in-law, who is in Coblenz.
A cable arrived this morning, instructing me to proceed precisely in the
manner I did. Rathbone is an intimate friend of the man I was actually
seeking. The apartment of this man Gregory was mentioned to Rathbone
in a cable as a possible temporary abiding place. What do you want to
know?"

"Whether or not he is undesirable."