'No,' she said, 'I will see him. It is better. Alice may come in at any moment, and before then I must know how matters stand between them.'
Trist hesitated, and at that moment the bell rang. They stood side by side looking at the closed door, listening painfully.
'Perhaps,' whispered Trist, 'the maid will say that Mrs. Wylie is out.'
They could hear the light footstep of the servant, then the click of the latch.
A murmur of words followed, ending in the raised tone of a male voice and a short sharp exclamation of fear from the maid.
Instinctively Trist sprang towards the door.
There was a sound of heavy footsteps in the passage. Trist's fingers were on the handle. He glanced towards Brenda appealingly.
'Leave it!' she exclaimed. 'Let him come in.'
Before the words were out of her lips the door was thrown open, concealing Theodore Trist.