"Is he visible?"
The maid hesitated a moment, then said falteringly, "I will see, sir," and left him standing in the obscure passage.
Without loss of time, M. Belmont himself stepped forward. Bowing stiffly and looking up in the vain attempt to distinguish the features of his visitor, he said:
"To whom am I indebted for this call?"
There was a tone of sarcasm in the query which almost threw Roderick off his guard. He saw that M. Belmont was racked by suspicions and must be approached with caution. He, therefore, extended his right hand and said:
"M. Belmont, do you not know me?"
That gentleman did not accept the proferred hand, but stepping backward and drawing himself up to his full height, exclaimed:
"Lieutenant Hardinge!"
Roderick made a slight inclination, but said nothing. M. Belmont continued:
"Do you come here, sir, in your military capacity?"