"Well, then, I'll be going," said Bernie, rising.
"No, stay and meet him." Blake rose to greet a tall, angular man of about Dreux's age, who came in without knocking. Chief Donnelly had an impassive face, into which was set a pair of those peculiar smoky-blue eyes which have become familiar upon our frontiers. He acknowledged his introduction to Bernie quietly, and measured the little man curiously.
"Mr. Dreux is a friend of mine, and he was anxious to meet you, so I asked him to stay," Norvin explained.
"If I'm not intruding," Bernie said.
"Oh, there's nothing much on my mind," the Chief declared. "I've come in for some information which I don't believe Blake can give me." To Norvin he said, "I remembered hearing that you'd been to Italy, so I thought you might help me out."
Mr. Dreux sat back, eliminated himself from the conversation in his own effective manner, and regarded the officer as a mouse might gaze upon a lion.
"Yes, but that was four years ago," Norvin replied.
"All the better. Were you ever in Sicily?"
Blake started. The sudden mention of Sicily was like a touch upon an exposed nerve.
"I was in Sicily twice," he said, slowly.