This intimacy, which did not necessarily imply any mutual fondness (though Crailey seemed to dislike nobody), was betokened by a furtive understanding, of a sort, between them.

They held brief, earnest conversations on the street, or in corners when they met at other people's houses, always speaking in voices too low to be overheard; and they exercised a mysterious symbolism, somewhat in the manner of fellow members of a secret society: they had been observed to communicate across crowded rooms, by lifted eyebrow, nod of head, or a surreptitious turn of the wrist: so that those who observed them knew that a question had been asked and answered.
It was noticed, also, that there were five other initiates to this masonry: Eugene Madrillon, the elder Chenoweth, General Trumble, Tappingham Marsh, and Jefferson Bareaud.

Thus, on the afternoon following Miss Betty's introduction to Rouen's favorite sons and daughters, Mr.Carewe, driving down Main Street, held up one forefinger to Madrillon as he saw the young man turning in at the club.

Eugene nodded gravely, and, as he went in, discovering Marsh, the General, and others, listening to Mr.Gray's explanation of his return from the river with no fish, stealthily held up one finger in his turn.

Trumble replied with a wink, Tappingham nodded, but Crailey slightly shook his head.
Marsh and the General started with surprise, and stared incredulously.
That Crailey should shake his head! If the signal had been for a church-meeting they might have understood.
Mr.Gray's conduct was surprising two other people at about the same time: Tom Vanrevel and Fanchon Bareaud; the former by his sudden devotion to the law; the latter by her sudden devotion to herself.