"She did so thoughtlessly," Mr. de Valentin answered. "Her reasons were tolerably clear to me, perhaps to you. With regard to them, I have nothing to say, except that your visit could be paid just as well, say in a fortnight after we land."
"Unfortunately," I answered, "that would not suit me. To be frank with you, Miss Van Hoyt would have left."
"If I can arrange," Mr. de Valentin continued, with some eagerness, "that she should not have left!"
"Mr. de Valentin," I said, "I cannot conceive what cause for embarrassment could arise from my presence in Lenox at the same time as yourself. I do not ask you to tell me your secrets; but, in the absence of some more valid reason for staying away, I shall certainly not break my present engagement."
There was a silence between us for several moments. Mr. de Valentin was fingering his cigarette case nervously.
"I am perhaps asking too much of a stranger, Mr. Courage," he said. "The matter is of the deepest importance to me, or I would not have troubled you. Supposing Miss Van Hoyt should herself fix the date of your visit, and engage to be there?"
"That," I answered, "would, of course, be sufficient for me."
"We will leave it like that then," he said. "I must apologize, Mr. Courage, for having troubled you with my private affairs, and wish you good-night!"
We separated a few moments later, and I went down to my state-room. I found Guest busy writing in a pocket-book, seated on the edge of his bunk. I told him of my conversation with Mr. de Valentin.
"I knew it was risky," he remarked when I had finished, "but it was an opportunity which I dared not miss."
"You might have told me about it," I protested. "I was altogether unprepared."
"The less you know," he answered, "the better. If you like, I will show you tracings of some letters which I discovered in Mr. de Valentin's portfolio. They were quite worth the journey to America, apart from anything else. Personally, I should advise you not to see them until our return to England."
"Very well," I answered. "Don't show them to me. But I shouldn't try it again. Mr. de Valentin is on his guard."
"I am not likely to make such a mistake as that," he answered. "Besides, I have been through all his papers. His secrets are ours now, only we must know what is decided upon at Lenox. Then we can return to England, and the first part of our task will be done!"