Amelia, looking crestfallen, stormed up the stairs with the tainted card. 
There followed a good deal of muffled commotion upstairs. After a few minutes, 
Amelia ventured as far down as the landing and encouraged Hackworth to make 
himself comfortable in the parlor. He did so, noting that in his absence, 
Gwendolyn had been able to consummate all of the long-term furniture-buying 
strategies she had spent so much time plotting during the early years of their 
marriage. Wives and widows of secret agents in Protocol Enforcement could rely 
on being well cared for, and Gwen had not allowed his salary to sit around 
collecting dust.