Ashe was embarrassed.
"I—I—well, you see, the experience will be useful to me, of course, in my writing."
"Oh! Are you thinking of taking up my line of work? Dukes?"
"No, no—not exactly that."
"It seems so odd. How did you happen to get in touch with Mr.
Peters?"
"Oh, I answered an advertisement."
"I see."
Ashe was becoming conscious of an undercurrent of something not altogether agreeable in the conversation. It lacked the gay ease of their first interview. He was not apprehensive lest she might have guessed his secret. There was, he felt, no possible means by which she could have done that. Yet the fact remained that those keen blue eyes of hers were looking at him in a peculiar and penetrating manner. He felt damped.
"It will be nice, being together," he said feebly.
"Very!" said Joan.