This contemplative man breathed harder and deeper as his eyes rested on lock and barrel, and for some time he stood hearing nothing round him, seeing nothing but the instruments of death.
'Yes,' he murmured as he turned away at length. 'I must go to the Russian war. One more campaign, and then ... then who knows?'
CHAPTER X.
A PROBLEM.
Brenda left Mrs. Wylie at eleven o'clock, merely walking away from the door of Suffolk Mansions without wrap or luggage. She did not know whether she was being watched or no, but her plans were so simple, and yet so cunning, that the question gave her little trouble. Detection was impossible. Trist had seen to that, and his strategy had been the subject of some subdued laughter the night before, because Brenda complained that she felt like an army. He had unconsciously dictated to her, in his soft, suggestive way, and so complete were his instructions, so abject the obedience demanded, that there was some cause for her laughing dissatisfaction. With intelligence, education, experience, reading, and money it is no difficult matter to evade the closest watcher, and Trist was not at all afraid of such means as lay at Captain Huston's disposal for tracing the hiding-place of his wife.
When Mrs. Wylie found herself left alone, she proceeded placidly to await further events. She was convinced that, sooner or later, the husband of her protégée would appear. Whether this questionable honour would be conferred with bluster and righteous indignation, or with abject self-abuse, remained to be seen. Neither prospect appeared to have the power of ruffling the lady's serene humour. The morning newspaper received its usual attention, and subsequently there were some new books to be cut and glanced at. Lunch had already been ordered—lunch for two, and something rather nice, because Theo Trist had invited himself to partake of the lone widow's hospitality.
In her small way, Mrs. Wylie was likely to pass an eventful day, but the thought of it in nowise took away her interest in December's Temple Bar. She was one of those happy and lovable women who are not in the habit of adding to their grievances by anticipating them; for it is an undeniable fact that sorrows as well as joys are exaggerated by anticipation. Personally, I much prefer going out to get my hair cut as soon as ever I realize the necessity. It is a mistake to put off the operation, because the scissors seem to hang over one's luxuriant locks with a fiendish click during the stilly hours.
About twelve o'clock there was a knock at the door which shut off Mrs. Wylie's comfortable suite of rooms from the rest of the house.
'Ah!' murmured the occupant of the drawing-room. 'Our violent friend. Twelve o'clock: I must get him out of the house before Theo arrives.'
She leant back and tapped the pages of her magazine pensively with an ivory paper-cutter, while her eyes rested on the door.