Her farewell was purposely chilly. It seemed as though the slight sparring in which they had indulged throughout luncheon-time, had found its culmination in an antipathy which she had no desire to conceal. Lutchester, however, only smiled.
"Nowadays," he observed, "that is a word which it is never necessary to use."
She withdrew her hand from his somewhat too tenacious clasp. Something in his manner puzzled as well as irritated her.
"Do you mean that you, too, are thinking of taking a holiday from your strenuous labours?" she asked. "Perhaps America is the safest country in the world just now for an Englishman who—"
She stopped short, realising the lengths towards which her causeless pique was carrying her.
"Prefers departmental work to fighting, were you going to add?" he said quietly. "Well, perhaps you are right. At any rate, I will content myself by saying au revoir."
He passed through the turnstile door and disappeared. Pamela made her adieux to Holderness and his sister, and then, recognising some acquaintances, turned back into the restaurant to speak to them. Fischer, who had just received his hat and cane from the cloakroom attendant, stood watching her.
CHAPTER III
Pamela, after a brief conversation with her friends, once more left the restaurant. In the lobby she called Ferrani to her.
"Has Mr. Fischer gone, Ferrani?" she asked.