"You don't know women, my son, and you don't know men, either." The thin white skin about his eyes wrinkled.
"Certainly, I don't know what arts may have been employed in Mr. Calhoun's office at half-past two this morning." I smiled frankly now at my chief, and he relaxed in turn.
"We had a most pleasant visit of an hour. A delightful woman, a charming woman, and one of intellect as well. I appealed to her heart, her brain, her purse, and she laughed, for the most part. Yet she argued, too, and seemed to have some interest—as you see proved now. Ah, I wish I could have had the other two great motives to add to my appeal!"
"Meaning—?"
"Love—and curiosity! With those added, I could have won her over; for believe me, she is none too firmly anchored to England. I am sure of that, though it leaves me still puzzled. If you think her personal hold on yonder gentleman will be lessened, you err," he added, in a low voice. "I consider it sure that he is bent on her as much as he is on England. See, she has him back in hand already! I would she were our friend!"
"Is she not?" I asked suddenly.
"We two may answer that one day," said Calhoun enigmatically.
Now I offered to Mr. Calhoun the note I had received from his page.
"This journey to-night," I began; "can I not be excused from making that? There is a very special reason."
"What can it be?" asked Calhoun, frowning.