Trist moved a little. He turned sideways, and glanced out of the window. His attitude was that of a man whose hands were in his pockets, but he was more than half a soldier—a creature morally and literally without pockets—and his hands hung at his sides.
'It is a ... a pretty strong combination.'
She smiled, and changed colour so slightly that he no doubt failed to see it.
'Yes,' she answered cheerfully. 'It succeeded once before. But Mrs. Wylie is not quite herself yet, Theo! That is why I don't want her to have any trouble in this matter. We have no right to seek her aid.'
The last words might easily have passed unheeded, but Brenda felt, even as she spoke them, that they contained another meaning; moreover, she recognised by his sudden silence that Trist was wondering whether this second suggestion had been intended. Uneasily she raised her eyes to his face. He was looking down at her gravely, and for some seconds their glances met.
If an excuse to seek Mrs. Wylie's assistance was hard to find, much more so was it open to question respecting Trist's spontaneous help. Why should he offer it? By what right could she accept it? And while they looked into each other's eyes, these two wondered over those small questions. There was a reason—the best reason of all—namely, that the offer was as spontaneous and natural as the acceptance of it. But why—why this spontaneity? Perhaps they both knew. Perhaps she suspected, and suspected wrongly. Perhaps neither knew definitely.
At last she turned her head, and naturally her glance was directed downwards into Piccadilly.
'There they are,' she whispered hurriedly, 'looking into the jeweller's shop opposite. What are we to do, Theo?'
He almost forestalled her question, so rapid was his answer. There was no hesitation, no shirking of responsibility. She had simply asked him, and simply he replied.
'Go,' he said, 'and throw some things into a bag. I will stay here and watch him. When the bag is ready, leave it in the passage and come back here. I will take it, go down, and take her straight away.'