Pagina 356 van 490

A sudden thought struck him. He put on his fur coat and hat and

went out into the hall. There he paused, hearing the slow heavy

tread of the policeman on the pavement outside and seeing the

flash of the bull's-eye reflected in the window. He waited and

held his breath.

After a few moments he drew back the latch and slipped out,

shutting the door very gently behind him. Then he began ringing

the bell. In about five minutes his valet appeared, half-dressed

and looking very drowsy.

"I am sorry to have had to wake you up, Francis," he said,

stepping in; "but I had forgotten my latch-key. What time is it?"

"Ten minutes past two, sir," answered the man, looking at the

clock and blinking.

"Ten minutes past two? How horribly late! You must wake me at

nine to-morrow. I have some work to do."

"All right, sir."

"Did any one call this evening?"

"Mr. Hallward, sir. He stayed here till eleven, and then he went

away to catch his train."

"Oh! I am sorry I didn't see him. Did he leave any message?"