Mr. Henty coughed, deprecatingly, behind his hand.
"Undoubtedly," he again supplemented, "the unfortunate gentleman—I understood you to say so, Miss Carter?—spoke in a very loud voice—
"That is correct," Miss Carter broke in. "It was only because he spoke so loudly that I was able to catch such words as I did."
Mr. Converse rewarded the girl with a nod of comprehension and approval. "Your graphic description will be of incalculable benefit," said he in a tone of quiet cordiality that brought the faintest of pink flushes to her pale cheek. And then he turned to the night manager.
"Mr. Henty, I should like to try an experiment; I believe I can duplicate the sounds which Miss Carter described so vividly. May she go to a 'phone in an adjoining room while I make the effort with this desk instrument, here?"
"Sure—if you don't intend to pound it with a hammer or rub it down with sandpaper," he added lightly..... "Miss Carter, go into Mr. Bascom's office, and answer over his 'phone. The light is burning."
"Give me half a dozen or so sheets of paper," Converse now said; "then get the young lady for me, and I'll do the rest."
Henty complied with an alacrity born of curiosity.
"All right, Captain; she answers."
"Tell her to listen carefully, so she may compare what she will presently hear with the sounds she heard last night."