“Good evening, Excellency,” said the four, and the newcomer replied in an irritated tone:
“Not that! How many times have I told you not to call me Excellency? There are no longer any Excellencies. I am plain Mr. Smith. Such a good, honest name and a good, honest man! You know I travel for a book concern, and all my anxiety is for the number of copies of their book I sell. Do you understand?”
“Yes, your—Mr. Smith,” said the men, and Mr. Smith sat down on the nearest chair.
“Shut that door,” he ordered. “Why do you infernal blockheads leave it open with all this light streaming out?”
“It was closed until you came in, Mr. Smith,” said the oldest man in an apologetic, submissive tone.
“Then all the more reason for shutting it!” said the newcomer.
He felt in his pocket and drew out a silver cigarette case. One of the little tubes fell out as he fumbled for it, and selecting another, the man lighted it and commenced to smoke. His back was squarely toward Lawrence, and even his figure was not discernible in the poor light.
Lawrence settled himself for whatever was to come. He knew somehow that a single move on his part would be detected by a pair of ears far keener than those others. In fact, there was something so sinister about the carriage and tone of the man who called himself Mr. Smith that Lawrence was not at all sure that he would not turn at any moment and say, “Come out of your hiding place, Lawrence Petit!” He felt himself grow cold all over. Once a rattlesnake had crawled over his foot and he had stood like a statue waiting for the deadly thing to creep away without being stirred to anger, and the same feeling of oppression chilled him now. He knew instinctively that he was in the presence of the most deadly and merciless human being he had ever encountered. Yet all he could pin his feeling to was the dim shadow of a form and the sound of a voice which was certainly soft and agreeable to the ear.
The cigarette which had fallen out lay on the ground and added to the boy’s danger. If Smith or one of the others should stoop to pick it up, they might easily discover him. As the oldest man commenced to talk, Lawrence made a cautious movement backward. That instant Smith held up a hand and whispered, “Silence!”
Lawrence stilled his very heart beats. For an interminable time there was not a sound, then Smith lowered his hand and said, “Go on! I was sure I heard something, but I must have been mistaken. If I lose my sense of hearing I will be out of luck.”