All he could do was to care the more for Siward without crossing the border line so suddenly made free; all he could do was to sit there rolling and unrolling his gloves into wads with his clumsy, highly coloured hands, and gaze consciously at everything in the room except Siward.
On that day, at Plank's shy suggestion, they talked over Siward's business affairs for the first time.

After that day, and for many days, the subject became the key-note to their intercourse; and Siward at last understood that this man desired to do him a service absolutely and purely from a disinterested liking for him, and as an expression of that liking.

Also he was unexpectedly made aware of Plank's serenely unerring business sagacity.
That surface cynicism which all must learn, sooner or later, or remain the victims of naive credulity, was, in Siward, nothing but an outer skin, as it is in all who acquire wisdom with their cynicism.

It was not long proof against Plank's simple attitude and undisguised pleasure in doing something for a man he liked.

Under that simplicity no motive, no self-interest could skulk; and Siward knew it.
As for the quid pro quo, Siward had insisted from the first on a business arrangement.