He looked relieved.
"You understand, Lena, that when I ask you to keep so strictly out of
sight, it is because you are not for them to look at--to talk about. My
poor Lena! I can't help that feeling. Do you understand it?"
She moved her head slightly in a manner that was neither affirmative nor
negative.
"People will have to see me some day," she said.
"I wonder how long it will be possible for you to keep out of sight?"
murmured Heyst thoughtfully. He bent over the table. "Let me finish
telling you. I asked him point blank what it was he wanted with me; he
appeared extremely unwilling to come to the point. It was not really
so pressing as all that, he said. His secretary, who was in fact his
partner, was not present, having gone down to the wharf to look at
their boat. Finally the fellow proposed that he should put off a certain
communication he had to make till the day after tomorrow. I agreed;
but I also told him that I was not at all anxious to hear it. I had no
conception in what way his affairs could concern me.
"'Ah, Mr. Heyst,' he said, 'you and I have much more in common than you
think.'"
Heyst struck the table with his fist unexpectedly.
"It was a jeer; I am sure it was!"
He seemed ashamed of this outburst and smiled faintly into the
motionless eyes of the girl.
"What could I have done--even if I had had my pockets full of
revolvers?"
She made an appreciative sign.
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