Potter flushed angrily, but made no reply.
"The manner of it," said the major, quietly, "was regrettable. The impulse behind it--and we looked for that impulse--was hoped to be something not regrettable. I came to find out that and other things. I have not come to offer advice, Mr. Waite, merely to get information valuable to our country.... Had you thought you might be valuable?"
"General opinion seems to hold the opposite view."
It was the major's turn to remain silent. He watched Potter's face keenly.
"What do you want of me?" Potter asked, finally.
"What would you do if war came?" countered the major.
"Enlist, I suppose. As an aviator, if I could. I've been thinking of going to France, anyhow."
"That's adventure," said the major. "And as for enlisting, would you be most valuable there or here--helping to produce those twenty-five thousand 'planes? Think that over."
"Do you believe we shall be in it?" asked Potter.
"I don't know," said the major. "But I do know that the man who goes ahead as if he were sure we shall will be doing the thing he should do. You, for instance, might think aeroplanes, plan aeroplanes, dream aeroplanes--fighting-'planes.... Shall we play around now?"
They played around, for the most part in silence, for Potter was following the major's direction to think. In the locker-room and in the shower-baths they did not allude to the matter of their conversation, and when they came out on the piazza of the club they found themselves in the midst of a party of younger members talking the sort of talk that is generally to be heard on country-club piazzas and drinking as if that were the business of their lives.
"Hey, Potter," called Jack Eldredge, "come over here and meet a pilgrim and a stranger--also state your preference."
The major touched Potter's shoulder. "Think it all over," he said, and turned away.
Potter walked to Eldredge's table, and Jack presented him to a young man in his early thirties who stood up and shook Potter's hand warmly.
"Mr. Cantor, Mr. Waite," said Jack. "Mr. Cantor came this morning from New York. Friend of the Mallards and the Keenes. Goin' to be around Detroit quite some time--so I put him up here, of course."
"Mr. Eldredge was very kind indeed," said Cantor. "I have hoped to meet you, Mr. Waite. I have letters to you from Mr. Welliver and Mr. Brevoort."