"That is all?"
"It is."
"Then permit me to advise you to drop all social intercourse with them if you wish to avoid future trouble; that is all, sir."
The stranger, having spoken in the strange manner related, rose and without another word departed, and there followed a few moments' silence, broken at length by our hero, who said:
"So that was the Richards family who occupied the box in the theater this evening?"
"Yes."
"They are friends of yours?"
Wagner made no answer, but asked:
"Do you know them?"
"I have heard about them."