Lutchester sat down.
"Thank you," he said, "I will wait."
A little ripple of excitement went through the office as Van Teyl started his negotiations. It seemed to Lutchester that several telephones and half a dozen perspiring young men were called into his service. In the end Van Teyl made out a note and handed it to him.
"I could have done better for you yesterday," he observed. "The market is strengthening all the time. There are probably some rumours."
A boy went by along the pavement outside waving a handful of papers.
His cry floated in through the open window:
REPORTED LOSS OF MANY MORE GERMAN BATTLESHIPS. BRITISH CLAIM VICTORY.
Van Teyl grinned.
"You got here just in time," he murmured, "but I suppose you knew all about this."
"I have known since three o'clock," Lutchester replied, "that all the reports of a German victory were false. You will find, when the truth is known, that the German losses were greater than the British."
"Then if that's so," Van Teyl remarked, "I've got one client who'll lose a hatful which you ought to make. Coming up town?"