He stepped into the office, closing the door behind him, and said, in an earnest whisper:
“Let me impress one thing upon you, gentlemen. I understand that you are anxious to keep any knowledge of this strange disappearance from your patrons, and also that you would not like it in the newspapers?�
“The newspapers?â€� fairly shrieked James Mallory. “That would settle us. I believe if I saw a reporter around this hotel, I would fling him out of the window into the sea. And, of course, we must not let our guests know. It would give the hotel a fearful black eye—although it is no fault of ours.â€�
“Very well,� observed Nick. “Then be careful that no one suspects my identity. I am Colonel Pearson, remember. If any one outside of yourselves were to know who I am, there would be no use my going on with the case.�
“You can depend on us keeping it a secret,� asserted Savage promptly. “We are too anxious for you to solve the mystery to throw any obstacles in your way.�
“That’s what!� added Mallory. “What do you think of it all?�
“We have seen the effect,� returned Nick, “and we know that it must have a cause.�
“That’s all right. But what is the cause?� growled Savage.
“The cause is never less than the effect,� continued the detective. “Therefore, arguing by the importance of the effect, we must look for a fairly powerful cause. Now, let’s go up to the fourth floor.�
The elevator man evidently had not heard of anything unusual in the hotel, for he merely glanced at the two partners and the gentleman he had come to know as Colonel Pearson, and when he was told to let them off at the fourth floor, he did so without emotion.