He murmured something vague, but he knew that he was forgiven. They were ushered to their places by a portly maitre d'hotel, and she approved of his table. It was set almost in an alcove, and was partially hidden from the other diners. "Is this seclusion vanity or flattery?" "As a matter of fact, it is rather a popular table," he told her. "We have an excellent view of the room, and yet one can talk here without being disturbed." "To talk to you is exactly what I wish to do," she said, as they took their places. "We commence, if you please, with a question. Mr. Fischer thought that he had that formula and he hasn't. I could have sworn that it was in my possession--and it isn't. Where is it?" "I took it to the War Office before I left England," he told her simply. "They will have the first few tons of the stuff ready next month." "You!" she cried, "But where did you get it?" "I happened to be first, that's all," he explained. "You see, I had the advantage of a little inside information. I could have exposed the whole affair if I had thought it wise. I preferred, however, to let matters take their course. Young Graham deserved all he got there, and I made sure of being the first to go through his papers. I'm afraid I must confess that I left a bogus formula for you." "I had begun to suspect this," Pamela confessed. "You don't mind being put into the witness box, do you?" she added, as she pushed aside the menu with a little sigh of satisfaction. "How wonderfully you order an American dinner!" "I am so glad I have chosen what you like," he said, "and as to being in the witness box--well, I am going to place myself in the confessional, and that is very much the same thing, isn't it?" "To begin at the beginning, then--about that destroyer?" "My mission over here was really important," he admitted. "I couldn't catch the _Lapland_, so the Admiralty sent me over." "And your golf with Senator Hamblin? It wasn't altogether by accident you met him down at Baltusrol, was it?" "It was not," he confessed, "I had reason to suspect that certain proposals from Berlin were to be put forward to the President either through his or Senator Hastings' mediation. There were certain facts in connection with them, which I desired to be the first to lay before the authorities." She looked around the room and recognised some of her friends. For some reason or other she felt remarkably light-hearted. "For a poor vanquished woman," she observed, turning back to Lutchester, "I feel extraordinarily gay to-night. Tell me some more." He bowed. "Mademoiselle Sonia," he proceeded, "has been a friend of mine since she sang in the cafes of Buda Pesth. I dined with her, however, because it had come to my knowledge that she was behaving in a very foolish manner." Pamela nodded understandingly. "She was the friend of Count Maurice Ziduski, wasn't she?"