"No. Oil is no woman's game, unless she can well afford to lose. I imagine that you cannot, Lucie. Once I get my company formed, however——"
"You're right, I can't put in any money. I'm land poor. Unless I were to sell that Bayou Terrebonne land—it's an old farm, abandoned since before father died——"
"Don't sell it!" he exclaimed, quickly. "Don't consider any dealings with it until I have looked it over, will you?"
"Since you ask it, no. If there's gas near by, there must be oil."
"Who knows?" he shrugged. "No one can predict oil."
"Then you still mean to go to Jachin Fell with your scheme?"
Gramont nodded. "Yes. See here, Lucie—it's about noon! Suppose you come along and lunch with me at the Louisiane, if you've no engagement. We can put those boxes in the mail en route, and after luncheon I'll try and get hold of Fell."
She put her head on one side and studied him reflectively.
"You're sure you'll not kidnap me or anything like that? It's risky to become a friend of hardened criminals, even if one is trying to uplift them."
"Good! You'll come?"