You have no doubt read some of the books,
almost manuals of instruction, that they have written?"
"I have read many of them," I said.
"Very well. You will enter, that is to say, enter and
move everywhere in the best society. Mark specially,
please, that you must not only _enter_ it but you must
_move_. You must, if I may put it so, get a move on."
I bowed.
"You must mix freely with the members of the Cabinet.
You must dine with them. This is a most necessary matter
and one to be kept well in mind. Dine with them often in
such a way as to make yourself familiar to them. Will
you do this?"
"I will," I said.
"Very good. Remember also that in order to mask your
purpose you must constantly be seen with the most
fashionable and most beautiful women of the American
capital. Can you do this?"
"Can I?" I said.
"You must if need be"--and the Baron gave a most significant
look which was not lost upon me--"carry on an intrigue
with one or, better, with several of them. Are you ready
for it?"
"More than ready," I said.
"Very good. But this is only a part. You are expected
also to familiarize yourself with the leaders of the
great financial interests. You are to put yourself on
such a footing with them as to borrow large sums of money
from them.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25