"You'd be more modest in a plastic shower curtain," Marc said. He boosted himself forward. "Come on." "I want to meet the congressman," Toffee said. And even as she spoke a portly gentleman with a ruddy face and almost theatrically white hair appeared in the entry and started forward. "And I think I'm about to." At the manager's limp wave, Congressman Orvil Bloodsop, the accomplished absconder of public funds, presented himself before the company. His eyes, true to forecast, registered a lively appreciation at the sight of Toffee. He nodded perfunctorily to Marc. "These are some people I met in sporting goods," the manager said. "I haven't the least idea what their names are--or if they have any at all. They can tell you, if they think it's wise." "What's in a name?" the congressman said with hackneyed gallantry. He got himself a chair and wedged it deftly between Toffee's and the manager's. "It's the ... uh ... heart that counts, eh?" He settled himself with a snort. "I don't believe I've ever seen you around before, dear. Where are you from?" Toffee lowered her lashes with artful mystery. "A long way away," she said huskily. "Stop that," Marc said. "Stop sounding like a movie vamp with a bad cold and come on." "I have things to discuss with the congressman, haven't I, Congressman Bloodsop?" "Why, of course, dear," the congressman said, leering at the things he hoped she referred to. "What things?" Marc asked crudely. "You'll see," Toffee said. "Enjoy the passing scenery." She turned back to Congressman Bloodsop. "I hear you've got some wonderful connections." "Some of the best, dear." "In Washington?" "Straight up to the President," Orvil Bloodsop boasted. "All the way up." "The President?" Toffee said. "Who's that?" * * * * * The congressman looked at her twice to make sure she wasn't joking. "Why the President is Lemons Flemm," he said. "You know that. But perhaps you remember Lemons when he was a television comedian. That's how Lemons got elected, you know. "During campaign time Lemons' sponsor refused to give up his air time for the candidates speeches. As a result everyone was trying to watch Lemons and the candidates at the same time, and they got confused. When they counted the votes, Lemons was elected. "And he's made the most entertaining president we've ever had. Taxes up one day and down the next. Anything for a laugh. Anything and everything goes." "I see," Toffee said. "This comedian, then, is at the head of the government?" "Right on the top of the heap. However, if any of us ever live to see another election I doubt that Lemons will be reelected. It seems that during the campaign there were a lot of people who thought the candidates were a lot funnier than Lemons." "But this Lemons Flemm is running things?" "A mile a minute," Orvil Bloodsop nodded. "Then if someone were in possession of a really decisive secret weapon he'd be the man to contact, wouldn't he?"