"Do you realize the absolute ingenuity of this plan? Subway riders by the thousands will be trying to put tokens _that they paid for_ into slots that will not receive them! The tremendous howl of anguish that will arise! The roar of frustration and then anger as the thousands pile upon the thousands at rush hour! The screaming and pushing as multitudes press forward at each subway station, demanding their rights of ingress as good citizens, while more multitudes press from the incoming trains demanding their rights of egress! Unquestionably the entire subway system will collapse in a matter of minutes! What was it you said before?" "_Ab homine homini periculum quotidianum?_" "And how!" He lit a cigar and puffed away for a few moments, filling my room with its foul odor. "Ingenious, eh?" he said finally. "But to what end?" I asked. "If anarchy rules the city, how could whoever is behind this plan assume control?" He leaned back in the chair, disappearing from view. "That is not part of the scheme. The purpose is to arouse the rest of the country to what has happened to its greatest metropolis. Every eye, ear, radio and television station will be turned towards Manhattan. The armed forces, all the resources of the government will, within hours, pour into the city, or try to. And at precisely that moment the rest of the country will be childishly open to invasion! If this plan succeeds, professor, the United States will be conquered within a matter of days, with remarkably little destruction or loss of life." I stared at the little figure in the chair. Was he serious? More important--was he sane? "Who is planning this invasion?" "Who else?" "Why tell me this story? Why not go to the authorities?" "I need sufficient proof, first. Unfortunately, matters are coming to a head far sooner than I expected. In addition, my disposing of one of their men earlier," he tapped his left arm significantly, "has left me in a vulnerable position. I dare not go to the authorities myself, for fear of exposing myself. And believe me"--he snapped his fingers--"I would not get as far as the nearest policeman. However, professor, you are unsuspected. _You_ could report this plan with no danger to yourself." "Enough! My dear Mr. Rumplestein-O'Grady, do you expect me to charge into a police station and blurt out this ridiculous story?" "I don't expect you to charge anywhere, professor. Not without proof. I will get the proof for you, by tomorrow. Then--as I suspect--if _I_ am unable to warn the authorities, I will expect _you_ to do so. In the meantime, make use of these when you go to the university, tomorrow. I found them on the body of the man I disposed of."