But whatever her game is, don't let us play it for her.

Let her do the leading.

If she gets hold of you fellows, one at a time or all together, for the love of heaven tell her nothing! Let her tell all she likes, but admit nothing--tell nothing--ask no questions! That's an old rule in diplomacy (and remember, she's a diplomat, whatever else she may be!) Old-stagers can divine the Young ones' secrets from the nature of the questions they ask! So if you got the chance, ask her nothing! Don't lie, either! It would take a very old hand to lie to her in such way that she couldn't see through it!" "Why not be simply rude and turn our backs ?" said I.
"Best of all--provided you can do it! Remember, she's an old hand!" "D'you mean," said Yerkes, "that if she were to offer proof that she knows where that ivory is, and proposed terms, you wouldn't talk it over ?" "I mean let her alone!" said Monty.
But it turned out she would not be let alone.

We dine in the public room, but she had her meals sent up to her and we flattered ourselves (or I did) that her net had been laid in vain.

Folk dine late in the tropics, and we dallied over coffee and cigars, so that it was going on for ten o'clock when Yerkes and I started upstairs again.