"Naturally," Lutchester replied. "Your brother's name was a good, safe name to get behind. But to conclude with our friend Nikasti. He is supposed to leave New York next Saturday, and to carry to the Emperor of Japan an autograph letter from a nameless person, promising him, if Japan will cease the export of munitions to Russia, the aid of Germany in her impending campaign against America." "An autograph letter, did you say?" Pamela almost gasped. "An autograph letter," Lutchester repeated firmly. "Now don't you agree with me that Fischer's game is just a little too daring?" "It is preposterous!" she cried. "I have a theory," Lutchester continued, "that Fischer was never intended to use more than one of these letters. It was intended that he should study the situation here, approach one side, and, if unsuccessful, try the other. Fischer, however, conceived a more magnificent idea. He seems to be trying both at the same time. It is the sublime egotism of the Teutonic mind." "It is monstrous!" Pamela exclaimed indignantly. "It is almost as monstrous," Lutchester agreed, "as his daring to raise his eyes to you, although, so far as you are concerned, I believe that he is as honest as the man knows how to be." "And why," she asked, "do you credit him with so much good faith?" "Because," Lutchester replied, "if he had not been actuated by personal motives, he would never have sought you out as an intermediary. There are other sources open to him, by means of which he could make equally sure of reaching the President's ear. His idea was to impress you. It was foolish but natural." Pamela was deep in thought. There was an angry spot of colour burning in her cheek. "Do you mean to tell me, Mr. Lutchester," she persisted, "that this afternoon, say, when with every appearance of earnestness he was begging me to put these propositions before my uncle, he had really made precisely similar overtures to Japan?" "I give you my word that this is the truth," Lutchester assured her solemnly. She looked at him with something almost like wonder in her eyes. "But you?" she exclaimed. "How do you know this? How can you be sure of it?" "I have seen the autograph letter which Nikasti has in his possession," he announced. "You mean that Mr. Fischer showed it to you?" she exclaimed incredulously. Lutchester hesitated. "There are methods," he said, "which those who fight in the dark places for their country are forced sometimes to make use of. I have seen the letter. I have half convinced those who represent Japan in this matter of Fischer's duplicity. With your help I am hoping wholly to do so." Pamela leaned for a moment back in her chair. "Really," she declared, "I am beginning to have the feeling that I am living almost too rapidly. Let us have a breathing spell. I wonder what all these other people are talking about."