Ruth abandoned the pursuit. She was shaking with excitement under her trim, khaki uniform and cape; but coolness had come to her—coolness and that calm, competent thought which always succeeded the irresponsible impulse with her. The German agent, M. Louis de Trevenac, was not trying to escape from Paris; his business, undoubtedly, was to remain here, and not in hiding, but prominent and well known. If she accused him to a gendarme the alarm would go at once to his confederates; it would be the stupidest and clumsiest action she could take. Now that she knew him, she could move most effectively by indirection; she need not betray herself at all, either to the French or to the Germans.
She returned across the Seine and went to her work while she thought it out. She could accomplish her purpose partly, perhaps, through Hubert Lennon. She might accomplish it more safely through the aid of other men whom she now knew; or through Mr. Mayhew. But she could accomplish it best through Gerry Hull.
Accordingly she telephoned to Hubert that afternoon to meet her at the pension as soon as possible; and when he came, she asked him if he knew where Gerry Hull was.
He was in Paris, Hubert had to confess; he had been in Paris for two days.
Ruth could not help coloring. “I need to see him, Hubert. Tell me where I can find him and I shall go there.”
“I’ll see that he comes here,” Hubert offered, a little belligerently.
“Perhaps that is better,” Ruth accepted. Her orders from the Germans had been to cultivate her acquaintance with Gerry Hull; yet, if they were watching her now, it was better to have them see him come to her. “But you must get him at once,” she said.
Hubert succeeded within the hour, for it was not yet five in the afternoon when Gerry Hull appeared on the Rue des Saints Pères, found the little pension and rang. Ruth had him ushered into a small private parlor, where she and Milicent entertained; she saw him there alone.
He did not pretend that he had been about to call upon her when she summoned him; nor did he apologize for not having called before. He was glad to see her, particularly when it became plain that she had sent for him for help in an emergency.
“I have received information, which I am quite sure is reliable,” she said to him after she had closed the door and they sat down, “but which I wish to have used anonymously, if it is at all possible.”