He himself remained silent and observant, and he let Cotherstone speak first.
"Well ?" said Cotherstone, coming close to him as they stood in a vacant space outside the office.

"Well ?" "Well ?" responded Mallalieu.
Cotherstone began to fidget with some account books and papers that he had brought from his house.

He eyed his partner with furtive glances; Mallalieu eyed him with steady and watchful ones.
"I suppose you've heard all about it ?" said Cotherstone, after an awkward silence.
"Aye!" replied Mallalieu, drily.

"Aye, I've heard." Cotherstone looked round.

There was no one near him, but he dropped his voice to a whisper.
"So long as nobody but him knew," he muttered, giving Mallalieu another side glance, "so long as he hadn't said aught to anybody--and I don't think he had--we're--safe." Mallalieu was still staring quietly at Cotherstone.