It was like burning money.
Ryder, with his customary bluntness, came right down to business.
"Well, what have you been doing about the book ?" he demanded.
"Have you found the author of 'The American Octopus' ?" "No, sir, I have not.

I confess I'm baffled.

The secret has been well kept.

The publishers have shut up like a clam.

There's only one thing that I'm pretty well sure of." "What's that ?" demanded Ryder, interested.
"That no such person as Shirley Green exists." "Oh," exclaimed the financier, "then you think it is a mere _nom de plume_ ?" "Yes, sir." "And what do you think was the reason for preserving the anonymity ?" "Well, you see, sir, the book deals with a big subject.