“To be sure. The taller is Van Vernet; the other Dick Stanhope.”
“Here they come,” whispered No. 46; “those two fellows in grey.”—[page 26].
As they approached, Van Vernet touched his hat with a glance of courteous recognition. But Richard Stanhope merely nodded, with a careless, “how are you, Charlie?” And neither noted the eager, scrutinizing glance bent upon them, as they passed the grey-bearded stranger and ran lightly up the stairs. “You’re wanted in the Chief’s office, Mr. Vernet,” said the office boy as they entered; “And you too, I think, Mr. Stanhope.”
“Not both at once, stupid?”
“Um, ah; of course not. Now look here, Mr. Dick—”
And Stanhope and the office boy promptly fell into pugilistic attitudes, the former saying, with a gay laugh:
“You first, Van, if the old man won’t let us ‘hunt in couples.’”
With the shadow of a smile upon his face, Van Vernet turned his back upon the two belligerents and entered the inner office.