m what it was all about,
and I told him about Schroeder without mentioning names. He said he
could only guess, but that if I would sign a contract he would keep my
plant running full for five years. It looks, doesn't it, as if
somebody had decided to change the map of Europe, and as if others
suspected the design?"

"Well, what came of it? Did you land a contract? Tell more."

"Nothing has come of it yet. But I think something will. I'm to meet
the Russian in New York shortly."

"Why the Russian? The Baron saw you first."

"The Russian had better manners," said Fulton simply. "I think he
liked me, and I know I liked him!"

Fulton asked me to dinner, but I refused, and so it was nearly four
days before I saw Lucy again. In the meanwhile Harry Colemain told me
more about the Palm Beach trip. The ammunition inquiries had, it
seemed, strengthened Fulton's nerves; there had been no repetition of
the hysterics.

"A man," Harry said, "must be even more down and out than Fulton not to
be braced by a prospect of good business. From what he told me, if the
contract goes through, he stands to make a fortune."

"Is there anything peculiarly good about the Fulton cartridges, or is
Europe just out to gather up all the ammunition she can?"

"It looks rather like a sudden general demand. But of course nobody
_knows_ anything except the insiders. Fulton says if the contract goes
through he can die any time and be sure that his family will be well
provided for. That feeling will stiffen his backbone. But you haven't
told me if you said anything to Lucy?"

I had been dreading that question as one which could not be answered
with complete frankness. I don't enjoy lying. Not that my moral sense
revolts, but because I am lazy. Lying calls for deliberate efforts of
invention.

"In a general way, yes," I evaded. "But her own good sense has come to
the rescue. John's absence gave her a chance to see how she really
felt about things. She won't leave him. Indeed, she'll try to make up
to him in every way she can for her failure of affection."

"If she does _that_," said Harry, "I daresay the affection will come
back. The more you benefit a person the more you like that person.
The more you fail in your duty to a person, the less you like that
person. I'm delighted with what you say. With all her charm and
beauty she can make him happy if she tries."

"I think it's not a question of charm and beauty," I said