Venturing nothing further, she seated herself at her table, book and pencil in hand, ready to begin. She did her work with a mechanical steadiness and lack of personality which might have classified her as indeed simply a cog in the vast machinery of the International Power Company. Rawn had gained facility in his own work, and had found in himself a real faculty for prompt decision and speedy handling of detail. He went on now smoothly, mechanically, rapidly, almost forgetful of everything but the series of problems before him, and forgetting each of these as quickly as he took up the other. He cast a look of unconscious admiration of the girl's efficiency when at last, finishing, he found her also finished with her part, and without having caused him delay or interruption. With no comment now, she took up the finished letters which had been left for his signature. Standing at his side, she literally fed them through the mill of his desk, taking away one signed sheet as she placed the other before him, smoothly, impersonally, swiftly. The work of the morning was beautiful in its mechanical aspect. V The business system of "International" was shaking down into a smooth and easy-running efficiency. At the close of this work, Miss Delaware remained wholly unruffled. Turning toward her at last, John Rawn felt that curious old feeling, half made up of chilling trepidation, half of something quite different. There seemed to be something upon his mind, some business still unfinished. "I was about to say, Miss Delaware," he began at length, "that I am, as you know, a very busy man." "Yes, sir," she said, evenly and impersonally. "I have so many things to do, you see, that I don't get much time to attend to little things outside of my business. A man's business is a millstone around his neck, Miss Delaware. We men of--ahem!--of affairs are little better than slaves." "Yes, Mr. Rawn," she said gently. "I can understand that." "For instance, I don't even know, as long as I have been here in Chicago, the names of the best firms of decorators, house furnishers, that sort of thing--" "Doesn't Mrs. Rawn get about very much, sir?" "Mrs. Rawn unfortunately is not very well. Also she has the habit of delaying in such matters. Then, as I don't myself have the time to take care of everything--why, you see--" Her eyebrows were a trifle raised by now. --"So I was just wondering whether I couldn't avail myself of your--your--very possible knowledge of these stores--shops, I mean." "Oh, very well. Yes, sir. But I don't quite understand--" "Well, I want to pick up some collector's pieces for my home, you see." "Good pieces? Yes, sir. Of what sort?" "Why, furniture--or--yes--some china stuff, I suppose. Maybe--er--some pictures." "I see. You've not quite finished the decorations of your new home, Graystone Hall." "Oh, you know the place?" "Every one knows it, Mr. Rawn. It is very beautiful."