THE BRASS BOWL
keyed to the highest pitch of immediate action, he had difficulty as scant in accounting for her presence there. What he did not quite comprehend was why Maitland had used her so kindly; for it had been plain enough that that gentleman had surprised her in the act of safe-breaking before conniving at her escape. But, allowing that Maitland's actions had been based upon motives vague to the burglar's understanding, it was quite in the scheme of possibilities that he should have arranged to meet his protégée at the restaurant that afternoon. She was come to keep an appointment to which (now that Anisty came to remember) Maitland had alluded in the beginning of their conversation.
Well and good: once before, within the past two hours, he had told himself that he was Good-enough Maitland. He would be even better now. …
"But you did surprise me!" he declared gallantly, before she could wonder at his slowness to respond. "You see, I was dreaming. …"
He permitted her to surmise the object round which his dreams had been woven.
152
