"What kind of an investigation?" "He mentioned something called Congress," Toffee said. "I think it's some kind of a club he belongs to." "A Congressional investigation?" "Uh-huh," Toffee nodded. "I believe those were his very words." "Who's going to be investigated?" Toffee smiled the sublimely innocent smile of one of heaven's nicer angels. "Me," she announced, "and you." "_What!_" Marc jumped to his feet as though he'd been wrenched by a pulley. "Why you...! What did you tell that old idiot?" "Nothing really," Toffee said. "I just told him I had a secret weapon, and he assumed the rest. He's including you as a personal favor." "Dear God in heaven!" Marc yelped. "Let's get out of here before he comes back!" "Oh, no!" Toffee cried. "I have to wait and see if he could arrange it." "Come on!" Marc said, taking her by the arm and dragging her out of her chair. "Where'd he go? We'll go the other way." "I must say I don't understand your attitude," Toffee said woundedly, following him into the entry. "After I worked like a demon to charm the daffy old vulture...." "_Just_ like a demon!" Marc said hotly. "_Exactly_ like a demon! You take the words from my mouth." "And I should dip them in cyanide and put them right back!" Toffee said. "I suppose it hasn't penetrated your blunted intelligence that I'm only trying to do something to help save this preposterous world of yours." "I see," Marc said. "You propose to save the world by ruining me. That makes such brilliant sense it fairly blinds me." By now they had reached the outer hallway and were covering space rapidly in the direction of the elevators. "I'm not going to stand for it!" Marc said testily. "And that's my message to you." He stopped before the elevators and placed his finger firmly to the button. "If you think I'm going to allow my life to be governed by the noxious fermentations of that fluttering mind of yours ... you're wrong!" * * * * * Toffee parted her lips for an angry reply, but just then the door across the hall opened, and Congressman Bloodsop appeared on the scene. His ruddy face was wreathed with smiles. "Ah, there you are!" he boomed expansively. "Well, the news is good tonight. You're to be investigated tomorrow. I'm to take you into custody right now, and there'll be a couple of government boys to guard you. You're to stay at my home under guard tonight, and we'll fly up to Washington in the morning for the festivities." He swayed back on his heels in a seizure of self-appreciation. "Fast action, eh?" "Mr. Bloodsop...!" Marc sputtered. "Mr. Bloodsop...!" But the congressman held up a hand. "No need to thank me, boy," he said. "It's nothing to pull a few strings for friends." "Mr. Blood...!"