"No, I can't see anybody else—order the car. Who is he?"
He took up the second card.
"Mr. Jeremiah Talbot."
The man who was concerned in the case where Ronald Morelle had figured so ingloriously. Perhaps he could tell him something about Ronnie? Something to his further discredit.
"Bring him in," and when the dapper Mr. Talbot appeared: "I can give you two minutes, Mr.—er—Talbot."
"I've come from a sense of duty," began the injured Jeremiah. "I'm certainly not going to be intimidated by threats from a beast like Ronald Morelle—"
Steppe cut him short.
"Is it about Ronald Morelle? I haven't time to go into your quarrels."
"It is about Ronnie—and Beryl Merville."
Jan Steppe gazed at the man moodily, then into the fire—then back to Jeremiah Talbot.