He blew it out. As yet his own ears had heard nothing, and he was beginning to wonder whether Naomi had been deceived. They listened a little longer. Then she said:
"We're provisioned for a siege. Did you see the flask and things on the counter?"
"I did. How in the world did you find time to get them ready?"
"I had them ready before you came. They were for you."
The two were crouching close together between the props. It was a natural though not a necessary attitude. The moon was shining through the skylight upon one of the walls; the multifarious tins and bottles on the shelves made the most of the white light; and faint reflections reached the faces of Naomi and the piano-tuner—so close to each other, so pale, so determined, and withal so wistful as their eyes met. Engelhardt first looked his thanks, and then stammered them out in a broken whisper. Even as he did so the girl raised a finger to her lips.
"Hark! There they are."
"Yes, I hear them. They won't hear us yet a bit."
"They mustn't hear us at all; but off with your boots—we may have to move about."
She had already kicked off her shoes, and now, because he had only one of his own, she pulled off his boots with her two hands.
"You should not have done that!"