“I see you understand.”
“I begin to,” said Peter.
Looking down at her plate and speaking somewhat nervously and hurriedly the girl went on:
“I want you—through your broker or banker or however you please—I want you to buy those bonds at what their market price was before the road went into the hands of a receiver. I think it will take about fifty thousand dollars. But buy them if it costs a hundred thousand. I can’t go higher than that.”
Hesitatingly she lifted her eyes. Peter was sitting back in his chair regarding her with an expression it makes any human being proud to have caused in another’s face.
A little color came into the girl’s cheeks and into her eyes a look of gratitude for the compliment and of pleasure in it. She went on:
“You understand, no one must know—must have the ghost of a suspicion. Especially Roger Wade. But no one—no one.”
Peter busied himself at lighting the cigarette he selected with care from the dozen in the huge gold case he carried in the inside pocket of his sack coat.
“Your agent,” continued the girl, as if laying before him a carefully thought-out plan, “can say he represents some men who are getting ready to fight to get control of the road.”
“I didn’t know you knew anything about business,” said Peter huskily, just for something to say.