, but it would
really be something to study under this one. Not that the old boy didn't
have some points, of course. Almost all nonconformists base their
particular peeves on some actuality, but in this case, what was the
percentage? How could you buck the system? Particularly when, largely, it
worked.

-------------------------------------

The Professor returned with an old-fashioned coffeepot, two cups, and
sugar and cream on a tray. He put them on a side table and said to Larry,
"You'll join me? How do you take it?"

Larry still had the slightest of hang-overs from his solitary drinking of
the night before. "Thanks. Make it black," he said.

The Professor poured, served, then did up a cup for himself. He sat back
in his chair and said, "Now, where were we? Something about a
revolutionary group. What has that to do with counterfeiting?"

Larry sipped the strong coffee. "It seems there might be a connection."

The Professor shook his head. "It's hard to imagine Ernest Self being
connected with a criminal pursuit."

Larry said carefully, "Susan seemed to be of the opinion that you knew
about a large amount of counterfeit currency that this Movement had on
hand and that you were in favor of spending it upon chorus girls."

The Professor gaped at him.

Larry chuckled uncomfortably.

Professor Voss said finally, his voice very even, "My dear sir, I am
afraid that I evidently can be of little assistance to you."

"Admittedly, it doesn't seem to make much sense."

"Susan--you mean that little sixteen year old?--said _I_ was in favor of
spending counterfeit money on chorus girls?"

Larry said unhappily, "She used the term _the Professor_."

"And why did you assume that the title must necessarily allude to me? Even
if any of the rest of the fantastic story was true."

Larry said, "In my profession, Professor Voss, we track down every
possible clue. Thus far, you are the only professor of whom we know who
was connected with Ernest Self."

Voss said stiffly, "I can only say, sir, that in my estimation Mr. Self is
a man of the highest integrity. And, in addition, that I have never spent
a penny on a chorus girl in my life and have no intention of beginning,
counterfeit or otherwise."

Larry Woolford decided that he wasn't doing too well and that he'd need
more ammunition if he was going to return to this particular attack. He
was surprised that the old boy hadn't already ordered him from the