“Somebody wanting to buy the house. Hash, there’s something fishy going on.”
“Ur?”
“Do you remember me pointing out a man to you in that bar in Fleet Street?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it was the same fellow. And do you remember me saying that I was sure I had seen him before somewhere?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ve remembered where it was. It was in Sing Sing, and he was serving a sentence there.”
Mr. Todhunter’s feet came to the floor with a crash.
“There’s something darned peculiar about this house, Hash. I slept in it the night I landed, and there was a fellow creeping around with an electric torch. And now this man, whom I know to be a crook, puts up a fake story to make me let him have it. What do you think, Hash?”
“I’ll tell you what I think,” said Mr. Todhunter, alarmed. “I think I’m going straight out to buy a good watchdog.”