Kennedy's eye had been travelling around the room as though searching for something.
"May I have a cigarette out of that case over there?" he asked, indicating a box of them on a table.
"Why—that is Mr. Lockwood's," she replied. "He left it here the last time he was here and I forgot to send it to him. Wait a minute. Let me get you some of father's."
She left the room. The moment the door closed Kennedy reached over and took one from the case. "I have some of Lockwood's already, but another won't matter, as long as I can get it," he said. "I thought it was her father's. When she brings them, smoke one with me, and be careful to save the stub. I want it."
A moment later she entered with a metal box that must have held several hundred. Kennedy and I each took one and lighted it, then for several minutes chatted as an excuse for staying. As for myself, I was glad enough to leave a pretty large stub, for I did not like it. These cigarettes, like those Whitney had offered us, had a peculiar flavour which I had not acquired a liking for.
"You must let me know whether anything else develops from the meeting in the tea room," said Kennedy finally, rising. "I shall be at the laboratory some time, I think."
XIV
THE INTERFEROMETER
Norton was waiting for us at the laboratory when we returned, evidently having been there some time.
"I was on my way to my apartment," he began, "when I thought I'd drop in to see how things are progressing."