Something in the girl’s voice surprised Westenhanger—an intensity of feeling which seemed quite uncalled-for by the subject. Of course, Eileen was watching for the Kestrel’s return. That was why she had come up to the headland; that was why she looked out to sea so eagerly. Anyone could put two and two together to that extent. But why should she be so eager to get into touch with the yacht? Obviously she wanted to do so; the reference to the lack of wireless could mean nothing else. And the tone of her voice was enough to betray the intensity of her desire.
Of course the Kestrel meant Mrs. Brent; there was no one else on board except the crew. But that meant that the return of Mrs. Brent was the thing Eileen Cressage was awaiting with such eagerness. Where did Mrs. Brent come into the affair? The only thing that mattered now to the girl was to be extricated from the position she was in. Had she been shielding Mrs. Brent in something? Had she given Mrs. Brent some promise of secrecy and was she now waiting for the Kestrel’s return so that she might take back her promise and clear herself? It sounded unlikely. Mrs. Brent could hardly be mixed up in the Talisman mystery. But if she was not, why should Eileen be so eager for the coming of the yacht?
He watched the sea again, avoiding the girl’s face with his eyes. After a time she finished her cigarette and threw away the stub.
“Another?” he suggested, drawing out his case.
She refused, and he took a cigarette himself and felt for his match-box. Eileen had let it slip down to the ground beside her after using it, and she now picked it up and tossed it across to him. Westenhanger deliberately lighted his cigarette, blew out the match carefully, and pitched it away before saying anything.
“Nobody suspects you of taking the Talisman, Miss Cressage,” he said at last.
The girl started as though she had been stung, and made a gesture as though she wished to stop him saying anything further. Westenhanger continued without appearing to notice her action.
“If that was all I had to say, Miss Cressage, I think I would have left it to your imagination. No decent person thinks you had anything to do with that business; and I expect you know that without my telling you. What I wanted to say was a shade more interesting.”
He looked out to seaward, so as to let the girl feel that he was not watching her.
“I know you didn’t take it, and I think I’ll be able to prove that fairly conclusively to any reasonable person.”