Then, with a friendly pressure of his brother's arm, he added: "Look here, old boy, can I be of any use ?" "In what ?" asked Hilary.
Stephen took a hasty mental view of his position; he had been in danger of letting Hilary see that he suspected him.

Frowning slightly, and with some colour in his clean-shaven face, he said: "Of course, there's nothing in it." "In what ?" said Hilary again.
"In what this ruffian says." "No," said Hilary, "there's nothing in it, though what there may be if people give me credit for what there isn't, is another thing." Stephen digested this remark, which hurt him.

He saw that his suspicions had been fathomed, and this injured his opinion of his own diplomacy.
"You mustn't lose your head, old man," he said at last.
They were crossing the bridge over the Serpentine.

On the bright waters, below, young clerks were sculling their inamoratas up and down; the ripples set free by their oars gleamed beneath the sun, and ducks swam lazily along the banks.

Hilary leaned over.
"Look here, Stephen, I take an interest in this child--she's a helpless sort of little creature, and she seems to have put herself under my protection.