He shuffled across the room, an ill-dressed, undignified figure, yet with a confidence which surpassed conceit. They saw him greet a compatriot and seat himself at the latter's table. 'That man,' Lavendale said, as he toyed with his coffee spoon, 'has at the back of his head some new scheme. It may not be directed against your people. I have an idea that it is more likely to be directed against mine.' 'But he is an American himself,' she protested. 'He is a German-American,' Lavendale replied, 'which means that he is very much a German and very little an American.' 'Whatever his new scheme may be,' she sighed, 'I do not think that he is disposed to talk about it.' 'Whatever it may be,' Lavendale replied, 'it is my business to find it out. One thing is absolutely certain. No American would receive the attentions of the Kaiser--in war time, too--and come back here without a word to say about it, unless there was something in the background, something he meant to keep secret.' They strolled out into the entrance hall and Lavendale departed in search of his hat. A waiter came hurriedly out to Suzanne's side. 'For madame,' he whispered, slipping a little note into her hand. Her fingers closed upon it quickly. She glanced around. Lavendale was still talking to some acquaintances. She opened it and read the few hastily pencilled lines:-- '_It would give me a great deal of pleasure to see you again before Friday. I am in flat 74 in the Court here. Shall be alone all this afternoon._' She crumpled up the note in her hand. Lavendale was coming towards her. 'Can I take you anywhere?' he asked. 'The car will be outside.' She shook her head. 'Don't bother about me,' she said. 'I am going up to my room to write some letters.' * * * * * 'Come in!' Suzanne turned the handle of number seventy-four, closed the door behind her and entered the sitting-room. Mr. Kessner turned around in his chair from before a mass of papers. He looked at Suzanne for an instant in surprise, an expression which, as he recognized her, changed quickly into one of satisfaction. He rose to his feet and came towards her. 'This is a great pleasure, my dear young lady,' he said. 'I scarcely dared to hope----' He took her hands, but she evaded him with a little smile. 'You see, we are neighbours almost,' she explained. 'I have an apartment here when I am in London. I thought I would call in and see you on the way to my room. But, please--do you mind?' She pushed him gently away from her. For a moment his face darkened. Then, with a shrug of the shoulders, he threw himself into the easy-chair opposite, a shapeless, ill-dressed little morsel of humanity, with a queer intelligence shining out of his narrowed eyes, suggested, too, in the square forehead and puckered brows. 'Listen, young lady,' he said. 'Do you know why I asked you to come and see me?' She raised her eyebrows and laughed at him.