“Must be getting on if I’m going to catch the midnight, and if I don’t there’ll be the deuce to pay!” Millard’s tone was frankly regretful. “Wish I could stay and make a night of it, dear boy, but you know how it is! You know how I’m situated! It’s been some evening, though, hasn’t it? I envy you, Storm; such rooms, such a cook, and call your soul your own!”
“Yet I am anxious to start on my trip,” Storm remarked. “I want to get away——”
“I know, dear old boy! Memories!” Millard heaved a lugubrious sigh. “I don’t blame you, but we’ll all look forward to having you with us again. I’ll look in on you before you start, of course.——Coming my way, Holworthy?”
“Eh?” George glanced up with a start, as if suddenly aroused, his near-sighted eyes blinking. But Storm intervened.
“Oh, George will stop for another smoke and a chat. It is early for him yet, you know; he’s a bachelor!”
He fairly hustled his departing guest into his coat in fear lest George should insist upon accompanying him. They must not leave together, presenting an opportunity for Millard to expatiate on his theme of the newspapers! Dense as he was, few things escaped George. He might have only subconsciously noted the trivial episode of the other night; but would he remember it later? Storm felt the moisture start suddenly upon his forehead, and the smoke-wreathed air seemed dense and choking.
“Yes, I—I’ll stay a little while,” George said absently. “You don’t know that policeman’s number, do you, Millard? The one who passed those two men on the Drive?”
“No, but I fancy you’ll find him out there almost any night about the same time.” Millard paused at the door. “Run out to Greenlea and dine with us soon, Holworthy; I suppose it is no good asking you, Storm? Well, thanks for a top-hole evening and don’t forget our wager!”
The door closed behind him at last, and Storm turned to face his remaining guest with the cold fear still clutching at his heart.
“Beastly bore, Millard,” he commented, lighting a cigarette with a critical eye on the hand that held the match. God, how it trembled! Had George seen? “That is a rotten way for a host to talk, I know, but he gets on a fellow’s nerves with his everlasting chatter. I made the wager with him to shut him up, but it had the opposite effect. Personally, I don’t believe he knows anything more of what is being done in the case than is given out to the press; they certainly wouldn’t take a he-gossip of his stamp into their confidence at Headquarters. He made all that stuff up just to create an impression.”