“Yes,” he went on, “when I make this old city it’s with the purpose of driving twenty-four hours work into twelve.  An automobile helps that way.”

“And you’re wasting all this time driving me up to my apartments?” Nancy smiled.  “I’m more indebted than I guessed.”

The man’s denial was instant.

“No,” he said.  “Your apartments are about two blocks from the Chateau.  But tell me, when’ll you be through making your report to Peterman?”

Nancy’s depression passed.  She was caught again in the interest of everything.

“Why, to-day—­surely,” she said.  “You see, I want to get word to you right away.”

Bull nodded.

“That’s fine,” he said.  “It’s not my way leaving things lying around either.  I’ll be on the jump to get through before sailing time to that little old country across the water.  But tell me.  That report.  After it’s in you’ll have made all the good you reckon to?  And then you, personally, cut right out of this thing?”

His manner gave no indication of the thing in his mind.

“Oh, yes,” Nancy replied happily.  “You see, I’ve bearded you—­only you’ve no beard—­in your fierce den up in Sachigo.  And I’ve—­and you’ve come right down here to Quebec with me to discuss with my people the thing they want to discuss with you.  They didn’t think I—­they didn’t hope that.  Maybe I’ve done better than they expected.  Why, when I hand the news to Mr. Peterman he’ll—­he’ll—­oh, I’m just dying to see his face when I tell him.”

“You—­haven’t wired him already?”

“No.  The news was too good to send by wire.”

For a moment the man contemplated the simple radiant creature beside him.  She was so transparently happy.  And the sight of her happiness satisfied him.

“It’ll—­astonish him, eh?”

“Astonish him?” Nancy laughed.  “That doesn’t say a thing.  I shouldn’t wonder if he refused to believe me.”

“And you’ll get—­promotion?  Promotion—­in Skandinavia?”

The girl’s eyes sobered on the instant.

“Surely.  Why not?”

“Yes.  Why not?”

Just for a moment Nancy hesitated.  Then her challenge came incisively.

“What do you mean?”

But the man smilingly shook his head.

“You want promotion under Peterman—­in the Skandinavia?”

Nancy’s eyes widened.

“Why shouldn’t I?  The Skandinavia’s everything to me.  It ought to be everything.  Isn’t that so?  Now, I wonder what you mean?” she went on, after the briefest pause.  “Are you talking that way just because you are a rival concern?” She shook her head.  “That’s no affair of mine.  But wait while I tell you.  Try and think yourself a young girl without folks that count, with a pretty tough world laid out in front of her, and with a healthy desire to dress, and eat the same as any other girl of her age.  She’s given a chance in life to make good, to gather round