"And Mr. Boller will remain with us?"
"What's the mystery?" Johnson Boller asked.
"There is not, I fear, much mystery," Hitchin said, looking straight at Anthony. "But there is a little matter I'd like to discuss with—er—you two gentlemen."
Mary rose hastily.
"I'd better go?" she smiled.
"If it would not inconvenience you, dear lady," Hitchin said unsmilingly and with a stiff bow.
Chin squared, he stood in silence until she had vanished down the corridor. He crossed the room and listened intently, dramatically; he held up the curtains and looked for the sliding doors which had been taken out five years before.
"No way of shutting up this room, Fry?" he asked crisply.
"No need of shutting it up, either," said Anthony. "There is no one to listen. What seems to be the trouble, Hitchin?"
Hitchin wheeled suddenly and turned his remarkable eyes upon Anthony.