"But it is not ten yet," said the man.
Hal drew out his watch and looked at it.
"Ten to the minute," he said, and held it up so the man could see.
"Your watch is wrong," was the reply. "However, I suppose it makes no difference. Come in."
He held the door open while Hal entered, then closed it.
"This way," he said, and led the way down the hall. Fortunately, he turned into a room facing upon the street where Chester and Uncle John waited without, though it was the room beyond the one beneath the window of which they stood. But, Hal noticed, there was a door between the two rooms.
"Ought to be easy enough," he told himself.
"You can wait here for Herr Robard," said the servant, and moved to withdraw.
"This is the Herr Robard's private office, I take it," said Hal.
"You are wrong," was the reply. "His office is just across the hall. But no one is allowed to enter there unless the Herr is with him, and the door is always locked."