He gave a cautious look towards the table, but Thresk had bent forward towards Stella.

She was saying in a low voice: "You don't mind a little chaff, do you ?" and with an appeal so wistful that it touched Thresk to the heart.
"Of course not," he answered, and he looked up towards Ballantyne.

Stella noticed a change come over his face.

It was not surprise so much which showed there as interest and a confirmation of some suspicion which he already had.

He saw that Ballantyne was secretly pouring into his glass not soda-water at all but whisky from the tantalus.