"The patron—is he here? I must speak to him."
"Who are you? What brings you?" The old woman still held the door ajar, and denied him admission.
"I have news from the Crimea—important news—from the Maltese."
"Joe?" asked the old woman, still suspicious.
Hyde nodded, and said sharply—
"Be quick! The patron must know at once. You will have to answer for this delay."
"He is absent—come again to-morrow," replied the old woman, sulkily.
"It will be worse for him—for all of us—if he does not see me at once."
"I tell you he is absent. You must come again;" and with that the woman shut the door in his face.
What was Hyde to do now? Watch outside? That would hardly be safe. The police, he knew, were on the look-out already, and they would be suspicious of any one engaged in the same game.