"Good evening, gentlemen," I said quietly. "To what do I owe the favor of this visit?"
I was disposed to be on my guard for von Fromberg's sake. The man with the beard answered.
"This is the first time we have met, Herr von Fromberg. My name is von Krugen, and my friend's Steinitz."
I was not quite sure whether to repudiate von Fromberg's name at once, or to wait until I knew more of the errand. I decided that it could do no harm to wait.
"And your object in coming?" I asked.
I saw a glance pass between the two, and the younger stepped past me casually, and took up a position close to the door. This interested me at once. It was quite obviously a move to prevent my running away. They seemed to understand von Fromberg's character.
"I think you will be able to guess," he replied, waiting until his companion had carried out the manœuvre. "We wish to have a little private conversation with you, and to induce you to go with us—you will know where."
"And to make sure that it shall be private, I suppose you got your friend to stand over there by the door," I said, motioning toward him.
"A merely superfluous caution, I am sure," was the answer, given with a smile; "but a locked door always keeps intruders out."
"And prisoners in," I retorted.