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"You know what goes on in Virginia, I suppose?

They do all sorts of obscene things out there, like push-ups and running for miles before they have breakfast."

Staley laughed.

"I went through it."

"Then you must know a prick by the name of Eldon C. Baker," Whittaker said, "which is another reason I'm not going to Virginia."

"I know him," Staley said.

When they got to the house on Q Street, Northwest, the guard would not pass the Buick through the gate until Whittaker showed him his credentials.

And when they walked into the kitchen. Charity Hoche, in her bathrobe, was waiting for them.

"You're not supposed to be here, Jimmy," she said.

"Jesus, and I was hoping for something along the lines of' Welcome Home, Jimmy."" "They expect you in Virginia," Charity said.

"I hope they're not holding their breath," Whittaker said.

"Aren't you going to ask me about Doug?"

"How's Doug?"

"Bearing up rather well, considering," he said.

"Bearing up rather well considering what?"

"That he's the official stud for the London-area Red Cross girls," Whittaker said.

"Some of them are real man-eaters."

"Damn you," she said.

"Actually, the last time I saw him, he was staring moodily off into space, muttering Browning sonnets," Whittaker said. '"How do I love Charity? Let me count the ways.... I love her..."" "That's better," Charity said.

"I'm going over there. I found out a couple of days ago."

"Well, that should certainly change his social life," Whittaker said, and then he asked the question that had been on his mind since he first saw Charity.

"Where's the regular house mother?"

"Cynthia's at the place in Virginia," Charity said.

"What's she doing there?"

"Going through the course," Charity said.

"What course?"

"The regular course," Charity said.

"What the hell is that all about?" he asked.

"What do you think?" Charity asked.

The notion that Cynthia was undergoing training to become an agent was so preposterous that he didn't pursue it.