"I have been told to-day that it is part of a scheme." "Who told you ?" he asked quickly.
"Peter Littleson," she answered.

"I have been lunching with him." "Peter Littleson!" he interrupted.

"But he is one of your father's allies! He and Bardsley and Weiss and your father are what they call here 'The Invincibles!'" She nodded.
"I am not sure," she answered, "but I fancy there is going to be a split." He was interested now, almost eager.
"Tell me what you know!" he begged.
"I know this," she answered; "that Littleson asked me to lunch to-day to find out whether my father's illness was genuine or not, and he gave me to understand that they suspected him of playing them false.

I believe that as usual my father has the best of it.

Peter Littleson admitted to me that just now, at any rate, he held them all in the hollow of his hand." Norris Vine looked out of the window for a moment.