, don't speak to me--a great thought flushes all my brain. Hush! I
have it,' and he sat down again, pouring seltzer water into a half empty
glass.

'Have what?' asked Logan.

'The Felt Want. But the accomplices?'

'But the advertisements!' suggested Logan.

'A few pounds will cover _them_. I can sell my books,' Merton sighed.

'A lot of advertising your first editions will pay for. Why, even to
launch a hair-restorer takes--'

'Oh, but,' Merton broke in, '_this_ want is so widely felt, acutely felt
too: hair is not in it. But where are the accomplices?'

'If it is gentleman burglars I am not concerned. No Raffles for me! If
it is venal physicians to kill off rich relations, the lives of the
Logans are sacred to me.'

'Bosh!' said Merton, 'I want "lady friends," as Tennyson says: nice
girls, well born, well bred, trying to support themselves.'

'What do you want _them_ for? To support them?'

'I want them as accomplices,' said Merton. 'As collaborators.'

'Blackmail?' asked Logan. 'Has it come to this? I draw the line at
blackmail. Besides, they would starve first, good girls would; or marry
Lord Methusalem, or a beastly South African _richard_.'

'Robert Logan of Restalrig, that should be'--Merton spoke
impressively--'you know me to be incapable of practices, however
lucrative, which involve taint of crime. I do not prey upon the society
which I propose to benefit. But where are the girls?'

'Where are they not?' Logan asked. 'Dawdling, as jesters, from country
house to country house. In the British Museum, verifying references for
literary gents, if they can get references to verify. Asking leave to
describe their friends' parties in _The Leidy's News_. Trying for places
as golfing governesses, or bridge governesses, or gymnastic mistresses at
girls' schools, or lady laundresses, or typewriters, or lady teachers of
cookery, or pegs to hang costumes on at dress-makers'. The most
beautiful girl I ever saw was doing that once; I met her when I was
shopping with my aunt who left her money to the Armenians.'

'You kept up her acquaintance? The girl's, I mean,' Merton asked.

'We have occasionally met. In fact--'

'Yes, I know, as you said lately,' Merton remarked. 'That's one, anyhow,
and there is Mary Willoughby, who got a second in history when I was up.
_She_ would do. Better business for her than the British Museum. I know
three or four.'

'I know five or six. But what for?'