ing at it on the chance that Podmore will drop a stitch. He's yellow
enough for anything.

"Now, here's where you come in, Phil. Podmore thinks you intend to
help him out and that is exactly what I want you to pretend to do.
We'll stage a little drama and we'll have you on the carpet along with
him. You'll deny all knowledge of the envelope. I'll fire you.
You'll get mad and come back at me with red-hot talk for doubting your
word and so on. We're going to let Podmore go when we get to the city.
You'll go with him. The chance to sic you onto him is too good to
miss. So we'll turn you loose together; it will be up to you then to
mix in where you see fit. Is that all clear?

"All right. What I want you to do is to keep an eye on him. Find out
what his next move is. He told you he was the reporter who had located
the evidence that convicted Rives. Did he tell you how he got hold of
it?--how he double-crossed Rives by low-down trickery? He doesn't know
how to be loyal to anybody. I'll be surprised if he doesn't repeat on
Nickleby.

"Then there are some things I want to find out about Nickleby and his
associates. I want you to move carefully, Phil. I had one of
Cranston's best men on the job until recently; but his usefulness was
ended by unexpected developments. I'm working to put Nat Lawson back
at the head of the loan company; Nickleby is an interloper and he's
playing ducks and drakes with the concern. Tell you about it later.
Are you agreeable to act as my secretary in these matters and to carry
out instructions--blindfolded, so to speak?"

Kendrick had listened intently to this recital. Now he deliberately
lighted his pipe before replying, and when he did it was to ask a blunt
question.

"Does Uncle Milt figure in this?" and he noted the shadow that crossed
the magnate's face.

"I wish I really knew that, Phil," said Wade seriously. "Time will
tell. I'm banking on your uncle to stay square to the finish; but
there's nothing to be gained by shutting one's eyes to the fact that
many a good man has found the political game as it's being played these
days too many for him. There are those who are inclined to doubt all
politicians, your uncle included. I don't set myself up as any
high-minded reformer; if you're sitting in on a game at all, you've got
to play it according to the rules that are handed you--or quit."

Phil smoked in silence. He was thinking of that strange interview with
his u