“Just so long as it take me slip on white jacket and come from pantry here,” and Siki sped lightly down the hall and back again. “Just so long, honorable sirs,” he said, and there was no quickening of his breath, although he had moved with unusual rapidity.
“Obviously La Montagne rang the bell,” commented Palmer, as Mitchell picked up his hat from the hall stand.
“Obviously, but not proven,” retorted Maynard, and he also took up his hat. “Wait, Mitchell, I’ll walk along with you. See you later, Palmer. Will you be at the tableaux to-night, doctor?”
“Yes. Mrs. Burnham has very kindly asked Palmer and me to go with them in their box.”
“Then we’ll meet at the theater.” Maynard nodded good-bye and stepped into the corridor; he had taken but a few steps when Siki hurried to his side.
“Here is the answer, honorable sir,” he said, handing him an envelope.
“Oh, thanks, Siki, I had forgotten.” Maynard slipped some loose change into the servant’s hand and then hastened down the corridor to where Mitchell waited for him.
“That’s an odd coincidence,” remarked the detective, keeping step with him. “Did you notice it?”
“No, what?”
“Why the ringing of a bell preceded the discovery of the dead man in Burnham’s library, and the ringing of another bell preceded the attempt to kill Burnham in Palmer’s apartment.”