Again she hesitated, but only momentarily. "I shall want you to help me, partner," she said appealingly.
He made a slight movement that passed unexplained. "You may find me—rather in the way—before you've done," he said.
"Then you won't help me?" she said, swift disappointment in her voice.
He turned round to her. His face was grim, but it held no anger. "You've asked a pretty hard thing of me," he said. "But—yes, I'll help you."
"You will?" She held out her hand to him. "Oh, partner, thank you—awfully!"
He gripped her hand hard. "On one condition," he said.
"Oh, what?" She started a little and her face whitened.
He squeezed her fingers with merciless force. "Just that you will play a straight game with me," he said briefly.
The colour came back to her face with a rush. "That!" she said.
"But of course—of course! I always play a straight game."
"Then it's a bargain?" he said.