"You were clever," he said; "and you were resourceful. You lacked only experience." While he spoke his eyes went about from place to place as though seeking some one. "Are you acquainted with many here to-night?" he asked.
"Not many," was the answer. She noticed the roving of the singular eyes, and her interest quickened. "Did you expect to see some one?" she inquired.
"I wonder if I know who it is?" She paused for an answer, but he seemed not to hear, and so she went on: "Some one who has done something amiss. Poor thing! Do you know, I feel sorry for him." Then, after a pause: "A man, of course."
"It's a woman!" Her voice lifted. "It's a woman!" she repeated. "Oh, poor creature!"
She turned upon him two fine eyes filled with concern.
"Perhaps it's a girl," she said. "A girl much like I was--one who can confide in no one, or has no one whom she can trust. Tell me, what is her----"
Just then, in the midst of a group which was about separating, Ashton-Kirk caught sight of Stella Corbin. Mrs. Pendleton noted his expression; her eyes followed the direction of his own. And when they rested upon the slight, girlish figure and saw the eager, frightened look, she turned upon him.
"For shame," she said, reproachfully. "Oh, for shame!"
"I only know that she is an English girl and came here with Madame Steinmetz. But," and her brilliant, challenging glance met his own squarely, "I know that she has done nothing. A girl who looks like that _could_ not do anything very wrong."
"It is not always well to judge by appearances," said he, quietly. "Physiognomists place great confidence in their power to read faces; but theirs is scarcely an exact science."
She sat regarding him steadfastly; then nodded and said:
"That is mere evasion. I recognize the ruse, for I have met it once or twice before. You draw upon generalities when questioned in a specific instance; and if your questioner takes that as a direct answer, you do not trouble yourself to put him or her right."
"I said that you needed only experience," he remarked.
Just then a sleek little form came rolling into view; the rosy face, shining bald head and the decoration were familiar to the secret agent.
"Mrs. Pendleton," said the German, and he nodded and waved his hand, "I am given much pleasure to see you."