"For shame," she said, reproachfully. "Oh, for shame!"
"You know her then?" said he quietly.
"I only know that she is an English girl and came here with Madame Steinmetz. But," and her brilliant, challenging glance met his own squarely, "I know that she has done nothing. A girl who looks like that could not do anything very wrong."
"It is not always well to judge by appearances," said he, quietly. "Physiognomists place great confidence in their power to read faces; but theirs is scarcely an exact science."
She sat regarding him steadfastly; then nodded and said:
"That is mere evasion. I recognize the ruse, for I have met it once or twice before. You draw upon generalities when questioned in a specific instance; and if your questioner takes that as a direct answer, you do not trouble yourself to put him or her right."
He smiled.
"I said that you needed only experience," he remarked.
Just then a sleek little form came rolling into view; the rosy face, shining bald head and the decoration were familiar to the secret agent.
"Mrs. Pendleton," said the German, and he nodded and waved his hand, "I am given much pleasure to see you."