"What do you expect to learn by all this questioning?" I inquired anxiously.
He did not answer except to draw my attention to a group of men lounging on the wharf. "Stay in the machine while I find out if Kite is among them."
He alighted and approached the group, but it was too dark for me to be able to distinguish more than a general blur of outlines.
"Can you tell me where I can find Ben Kite to-night?" I heard McKelvie ask.
"Who wants 'im?" growled a coarse voice in answer.
"I do," replied McKelvie.
"What you want, stranger?" remarked the same voice again.
"Are you Ben Kite?"
"That's the name me mither give me," the man returned, detaching himself from the group, which laughed immoderately at his words. "What you want?"
"A moment's conversation and I'll make it worth your while, but I don't care particularly for an audience. Do you see that car? Tell your friends to remain where they are. You'll find me waiting in the machine if you want a ten-spot."