The doctor remained perfectly unmoved. Cosmo, who was looking towards the distant door, saw the head again and this time shouted at it an inquiry. Thereupon the owner of the head entered and had not advanced half the length of the room before Cosmo recognized in him the portly figure of Spire. To his great surprise, however. Spire instead of coming up to the table made a vague gesture and stopped short.
This was strange conduct. The doctor sat completely unconscious, and Cosmo took the course of excusing himself and following Spire, who, directly he had seen his master rise, had retreated rapidly to the door. The doctor did not rouse himself to answer, and Cosmo left him leaning on his elbow in a thoughtful attitude. In the badly lighted hall he found Spire waiting for him between the foot of the stairs and the door which Cosmo presumed was leading to the offices of the hotel. Again Spire made a vague gesture which seemed to convey a warning, and approached his master on tiptoe.
"Well, what is it? What do you mean by flourishing your arm at me like this?" asked Cosmo sharply, and Spire ventured on a warning "Ssh!"
"Why, there is nobody here," said Cosmo, lowering his voice nevertheless.
"I wanted to tell you, sir, I have seen that fellow."
"What fellow? Oh yes. The fellow with the cap. Where did you see him?"
"He is here," said Spire, pointing to the closed door.
"Here? What could a man like that want here? Did you speak to him?"
"No, sir, he has just come in and for all I know he may be already gone away—though I don't think so."
"Oh, you don't think so. Do you know what he has come for?"