"I don't think it will be very long; only, she is a little bit the smartest woman I ever tried to handle."
When Nick Carter and Patsy left the office of the railway president, they strolled in silence down the street until they came to a restaurant, and, entering, they found a secluded table in one corner, where they seated themselves and gave the order for luncheon.
When it was brought to them, and the waiter had departed, Nick said to his assistant:
"Well, Patsy, we start about where we began on the other case, with the single exception that we have broken up the stronghold in the swamp. It is safe to say that Madge has no less than fifty men around her, and probably as many more. I should not be surprised if there were fully one hundred in the gang, all told."
"Well, I shall start for Calamont as soon as I have finished with the meal I am now eating."
"I want you to do a serious thing, and a dangerous one, Patsy."
"I think that Black Madge rather liked you in your character of a young Irish crook; but I think also that she had some suspicion of you."
"And, therefore, it will be an extremely dangerous thing to do to return there, and still represent yourself as the same character."
"You must not forget that they will look upon you with suspicion."
"They will connect you with their misfortunes at once. Handsome, particularly, after being so nicely fooled by me, will be even more suspicious of you."
"I think I can get around Handsome, all right. It is Madge I am shy of."
"There will be one thing in your favor, Patsy, if you _do_ undertake it."
"If I _do_ undertake it? Of course, I shall undertake it."
"Then there will be one thing in your favor."
"The very fact that you _do_ go back among them in the same character in which you appeared before. I am inclined to think that now they would not take in a new man, no matter how well he might be recommended; but one that they have known before will stand a lot better chance with them."
"The very fact of your returning will go far to allay any suspicions they might have had about you formerly. It would never occur to them that if you were really a detective that time, you would dare to return to them in the same character."
"And, consequently, if you succeed in passing the investigation of the first few hours, you will be all right."