For a disgraceful moment Henry Brown wished to say, "The cause be blowed," but happily his eyes met hers. Innocence, reinforced by pretty features, has an easy prey in besotted experience. She lowered her lashes in virginal confusion and appeal. "I'll do it!" said Henry Brown, setting his teeth. "That is, if you're on the square."
She clapped her hands.
"Oh, thank you! thank you! I promise that I am on the square. Really, I am a victim.... What I want you to do is to become, for a short time, a kind of detective."
"A detective!"
"An amateur. If you can leave the guidance of your business to another for a time."
Her hand touched his again, possibly by accident.
"N—yes," he said, determined. "Yes, I mean—yes."
"I shall tell you the story another time. For the present I shall say that it has to do with some papers. I may ask you to follow and watch a man. I may ask you to get back for me the documents. I may—I do not know. It may even be necessary for you to leave London for a brief space. For the present we can do nothing, but will you hold yourself in readiness to act at a word—a sign—a telegram from me?"
Things were developing more rapidly than Henry Brown liked, but he was a man of his word and—she was a delightful creature.
"I will."