Van Teyl grinned. "You got here just in time," he murmured, "but I suppose you knew all about this." "I have known since three o'clock," Lutchester replied, "that all the reports of a German victory were false. You will find, when the truth is known, that the German losses were greater than the British." "Then if that's so," Van Teyl remarked, "I've got one client who'll lose a hatful which you ought to make. Coming up town?" "I should like, if I may?" Lutchester said, "to be permitted to pay my respects to your sister." "Why, that's fine!" Van Teyl exclaimed unconvincingly. "We'll take the subway up." They left the office and plunged into the indescribable horrors of their journey. When they stepped out into the sunlit street in another atmosphere, Van Teyl laid his hand upon his companion's arm in friendly fashion. "Say, Lutchester," he began, "I don't know that you are going to find Pamela exactly all that she might be in the way of amiability and so on. I know these things are done on the other side, but here it's considered trying your friends pretty high to take a lady of Sonia's reputation where you are likely to meet your friends. No offence, eh?" "Certainly not," Lutchester replied. "I was sorry, of course, to see you last night. On the other hand, Sonia is an old friend, and my dinner with her had an object. I think I could explain it to your sister." "I don't know that I should try," Van Teyl advised. "For all her cosmopolitanism, Pamela has some quaint ideas. However, I thought I'd warn you, in case she's a bit awkward." Pamela, however, had no idea of being awkward. She welcomed Lutchester with a very sweet smile, and gave him the tips of her fingers. "I was wondering whether we should see you again before we went," she said. "We are leaving for Washington to-morrow." "By the three o'clock train, I hope?" he ventured. She raised her eyebrows. "Why, are you going, too?" "I hope so." "I should have thought most of the munition works," she observed, "were further north." "They are," he acknowledged, "but I have business in Washington. By the bye, will you both come out and dine with me to-night?" Van Teyl glanced at his sister. She shook her head. "I am so sorry," she said, "but we are engaged. Perhaps we shall see something of you in Washington." "I have no doubt you will," Lutchester replied "All the same," he added, "it would give me very great pleasure to entertain you at dinner this evening." "Why particularly this evening?" she asked. He looked at her with a queer directness, and Pamela felt certain very excellent resolutions crumbling. She suffered her brother to leave the room without a word. "Because," he explained, "I think you will find a different atmosphere everywhere. There will be news in the evening papers." "News?" she repeated eagerly. "You know I am always interested in that."