"They won't offer me the account, I'm sure. Maybe they want to threaten me. Lawyers there, perhaps. Well, I'll soon find out!"
Delmuth had his hand on the doorknob. While he was talking, he was looking toward Matthews. With his last words, the advertising manager walked out into the hall.
There he stopped, and his lips tightened. He frowned as he glanced back toward the office. For Sidney Delmuth had a sudden recollection of something he had noticed just as he stepped through the door. Acting impulsively, Delmuth went back into the office. Matthews looked up in surprise at his return. He could not understand the puzzled look on Delmuth's face.
The advertising man was looking straight toward the far wall.
"What's the matter, sir?" asked Matthews.
"I've forgotten something," replied Delmuth. "I can't remember what it is." Actually, Sidney Delmuth was looking for a shadow. He was astonished because he did not see it. While he had been talking to Matthews, he had observed, in an offhand manner, a tall patch of darkness in the dim far corner. He had come back to look at it again. It was no longer there.
"The Shadow," murmured Delmuth. "The Shadow. I wonder if — " He strode across the room to that corner. There was nothing there. Unconscious of Matthews' surprised gaze, Delmuth walked about the room; then made an inspection of both inner offices. He finally stopped at a door that led into a side corridor. He tried the door; it was locked.
"That door is always locked, sir," said Matthews.
"I know it," answered Delmuth. "But where is the key? It's usually in the lock."
"That's so," said Matthews, in surprise. "I guess someone must have taken it out."