In the drawing-room he succumbed to his hostess's Bohemian persuasions, and lighted a cigarette. He seemed to have forgotten his own affairs.
'About Alice,' he began—'que faire?'
For some reason Mrs. Wylie avoided meeting his glance.
'I told Alfred Huston,' she replied, after a pause, 'that I would communicate with Alice, and that I had hopes of their living happily together yet.'
Her tone was eminently practical and business-like. Trist answered in the same way.
'I told Alice,' he said cheerily, 'that I would ask you to communicate with Huston, with the view of coming to some definite arrangement. Hide-and-seek is a slow game after a time.'
'What sort of arrangement?'
'Well ... I suggested that he should agree to leave her unmolested for a certain time, during which she could think over it.'
Mrs. Wylie's smile was a trifle wan and uncertain.
'In fact, you made the best of it?'