She was suddenly serious.
"Now that I have told you the truth," she said, "I really ought to thank you. You certainly seem to have a knack of appearing when you are wanted."
"Fluke this time, I'm afraid," he acknowledged, "but I rather like the suggestion. You ought to see a great deal of me, Miss Van Teyl. Do you realise that I am a stranger in New York, and any hospitality you can show me may be doubly rewarded? Are you going to take me round and show me the sights?"
"Are you going to have any time for sight-seeing?"
"Well, I hope so. Why not? A fellow can't do more than a certain number of hours' work in a day."
She looked at him curiously.
"And yet," she murmured, "you expect to win the war!"
"Of course we shall win the war," he assured her confidently. "You haven't any doubt about that yourself, have you, Miss Van Teyl?"
"I don't know," she told him calmly.
Lutchester was almost horrified. He rose to his feet and stood looking down at his companion.