“Show him in,” he said with a nod.
The slim man in evening dress who came softly into the room was a stranger to Monty, who knew most of the prominent figures in the world of criminal detection. And yet his face was in some way familiar.
“Captain Newton?” he asked.
“That is my name.” Newton rose with a smile.
The visitor looked slowly round towards the door through which the footman had gone.
“Do your servants always listen at the keyhole?” he asked, in a quiet, measured tone, and Newton’s face went a dusky red.
In two strides he was at the door and had flung it open, just in time to see the disappearing heels of the footman.
“Here, you!” He called the man back, a scowl on his face. “If you want to know anything, will you come in and ask?” he roared. “If I catch you listening at my door, I’ll murder you!”
The man with a muttered excuse made a hurried escape.
“How did you know?” growled Newton, as he came back into the room and slammed the door behind him.