“What servants have you?”
“Only two maids, besides the boy who does odd jobs, such as polishing brasswork, sweeping the front steps, and waiting on the cook. He sleeps out of the house. My daughter lets him in early in the morning. There is an electric contrivance, operating from her bedroom, which opens the side gate, and also connects with the lock of the back door to the kitchen.”
Nick Carter stopped smoking and looked hard at the professor. He was interested in this mechanical device.
“I should like to see that electric connection,” he said. “Can you show it to me?”
“Certainly. Wait a moment.”
Bentham went out of the room. When he returned he smiled apologetically.
“My daughter is dressing to go out this afternoon. But I can tell you all about it. There is nothing remarkable about the apparatus. I had it put in by a regular electrician. It is a great deal like the electric door openers used in flat houses, by which tenants open the front door at the street without leaving their apartments.”
Nick Carter resumed his cigar and smoked for several minutes in silence. His host could see that he was thinking hard, and did not disturb him. Instead, he kept on gravely smoking himself.
“The last time this fellow came in was last night, eh?” asked Nick Carter, after a long pause.
“Yes.”