But this man was made of coarser grain than the policeman, and, instead of seeing that Diamond could not tell a lie, he put his answer down as impudence, and saying, “Do you think I'm going to take your word for it?” shut the door in his face.
Diamond turned and sat down on the doorstep, thinking with himself that the tall gentleman must either come in or come out, and he was therefore in the best possible position for finding him. He had not waited long before the door opened again; but when he looked round, it was only the servant once more.
“Get, away” he said. “What are you doing on the doorstep?”
“Waiting for Mr. Raymond,” answered Diamond, getting up.
“He's not at home.”
“Then I'll wait till he comes,” returned Diamond, sitting down again with a smile.
What the man would have done next I do not know, but a step sounded from the hall, and when Diamond looked round yet again, there was the tall gentleman.
“Who's this, John?” he asked.
“I don't know, sir. An imperent little boy as will sit on the doorstep.”
“Please sir” said Diamond, “he told me you weren't at home, and I sat down to wait for you.”