"I do not make a habit of it," I said coldly. "I expected to come here to-night, and I did not foresee that I was to have company."
He made no reply to this, and the hack drew up near Big Sam's door as I had directed.
I stepped out and Mr. Baldwin followed.
"I think you had better remain here," I said.
"Perhaps," he replied. "But if you have no objection I'll stop at the foot of the stairs. You might have occasion to call to me and I should hear you better there."
"I think there is no danger."
"Big Sam is not as scrupulous as you may think. It has been said that men have gone up those stairs who never came down."
I remembered Big Sam's judgment hall, and the power he had apparently exercised over the warring tongs, and thought it quite likely that judgments had been executed as well as passed within its walls.
"Suit yourself," I said. "But as you are not armed you can do nothing but raise an alarm if the need comes. And you may be in more danger than I."
"Perhaps the hackman has a pistol," said Mr. Baldwin coolly. "I may be able to get a loan."