Page "belles_lettres" Paragraph 1037

To attack Pike directly would gain Woodruff little, for as a penniless newcomer Pike had nothing to lose.

By this time Woodruff had accurately measured Pike as a man of great personal pride, a man who would fly into a towering rage if his integrity were questioned, and who would be anxious to avenge himself.

Pike's honor would now come under attack, but not by Woodruff himself.

The charges would be made in The Gazette by an anonymous correspondent, and Pike would be so busy trying to track down the illusive character assassin that he would forget about harassing Woodruff.

The strategy worked perfectly.