"He wanted me to take a message to a friend of his, a Russian."
"What was the message?"
"'Nine-thirty o'clock to-night, at place agreed upon.'"
"Did you take it?"
"Yes."
"Without understanding what it meant?"
"Without understanding it at all. I asked Mannion what it meant, and he said it was an appointment about which I could possibly have no concern."
"Did you see Mannion that night?"
"Certainly. He stayed in this house."