"I doubt very much whether he will see you," he said: "he is in his worst mood. However, I will go along and find out what his wishes are."
He was absent for ten minutes, and when he returned he beckoned to the visitor.
Poltavo followed him up the stairs till he came to the room in which the bedridden Mr. Moole lay.
A man turned as the two visitors came in—it was Farrington in the life, Farrington as he had seen him on the night of his disappearance from the box at the Jollity. The big man nodded curtly.
"Why have you come down here," he asked, harshly, "leading half the detectives in London to me?"
"I do not think you need bother about half the detectives in London," said Poltavo. He looked at Fall. "I want to see you alone," he said.
Farrington nodded his head and the other departed, closing the door behind him.
"Now," said Poltavo,—he crossed the room with two strides,—"I want to know what you mean—you treacherous dog—by this infernal will of yours!"
"You can sit down," said Farrington, coolly, "and you can learn right now, Poltavo, that I do not stand for any man questioning me as to why I should do this or that, and I certainly do not stand for any human being in the world speaking to me as you are doing."