She pulled herself up and seized the pretty beaded vanity bag lying ready to her hand.  Then the telephone rang.

It was the cab which the porter had ordered, and she hastily switched off the lights.

On the way down in the elevator her train of thought persisted.  And long before she reached the Chateau, a feeling that she was playing something of the part of Delilah took hold of her and depressed her.

But she was determined.  Whatever happened her service and loyalty was in support of her early benefactors, and no act of hers should betray them.

* * * * *

The scene was pleasantly seductive.  There was no doubt or anxiety in Nancy McDonald’s mind now.  How should there be?  She was young.  She was beautiful.  The man with whom she was dining was remarkable amongst the well-dressed throng that filled the great dining-room.  Then the dinner had been carefully considered.

But it was the delightful surroundings, the little excitement of it all that left the girl’s thought care-free.  The shaded table lights.  The wonderful flowers.  The dark panelling of the great room constructed and designed in imitation of an old French Chateau.  Then the throng of beautifully gowned women, and the men who purposed an evening of enjoyment.  The soft music of the distant string band and—­oh, it was all dashed with a touch of Babylonic splendour with due regard for the decorum required by modern civilisation, and Nancy was sufficiently young and unused to delight in every moment of it.

The first excitement of it all had spent itself, and laughing comment had given place to those things with which the girl was most concerned.

“Folks can’t accuse us of dilatoriness,” she said.  “Let’s see.  Why, we made land this morning after every sort of a bad passage, battered and worn, and in less than how many hours?—­eight?—­nine?—­” she laughed.  “Why, I guess a sewing bee wouldn’t have got through their preliminary talk in that time.”

“No.”  Bull too was in the mood for laughter.  “A sewing bee’s mighty well named.  There’s a big buzz mostly all the time, and the tally of work only needs to be figgered when the season closes.  We’ve settled up the future of two enterprises liable to cut big ice in this country’s history in record time.”

“You’ve settled with Mr. Peterman?”

“Roughly.”

The man’s eyes were shining with a smile of keen enjoyment.

Nancy experienced a thrill of added excitement as she disposed of her last oyster.

“I haven’t a right to butt in asking too many questions,” she suggested.

Bull tasted his wine and thoughtfully set his glass down.  Then he looked across at the eager face alight with every question woman’s curiosity and interest could inspire.  He smiled into it.  And somehow his smile was very, very gentle.

“That’s pretty well why we’re here now though,” he said.  “You can just ask all you fancy to know, and I’ll tell you.  But maybe I can save you worry by telling you first.”