'Yes. What else could I do?'
The widow looked at him keenly. It was hard to believe in disinterestedness like this; and it is a very human failing to doubt disinterestedness of any description.
'I told Alfred Huston,' she said disconnectedly, 'that I trusted you to do your honest best for all concerned in this matter.'
'Which statement Huston politely declined to confirm, I should imagine.'
Mrs. Wylie shrugged her shoulders. Denial was evidently out of the question.
'Then my name was brought in?' asked Trist in a peculiar way.
'Yes.'
'By whom?'
'By me. It would have been worse than useless, Theo, to have attempted ignorance of your influence over the girls.'
For a second time Trist avoided meeting his companion's glance.