"How did you explain the sandwich to them--and Greenfield's napkin?
They couldn't have bought your stage magic idea."
"No. Told them those were Dr. Al's posthypnotic suggestions. It's the
other standard rationalization."
* * * * *
They drove on in silence for a while. Then Jeffries cleared his
throat.
"Incidentally," he said. "I should apologize for the slip with the
sandwich, even though it turned out to our advantage. I can't quite
explain it. I was thinking of other matters at the moment, and I
suppose I...."
Cavender, who had been gazing drowsily through the windshield, shook
his head.
"As you say, it turned out very well, Reuben. Aside from putting the
first crack in Mavis Greenfield's defenses, it shook up Dr. Al to the
point where he decided to collect as much as he could tonight, cash
the checks, and clear out. So he set himself up for the pinch. We
probably gained as much as three or four weeks on both counts."