He was gone. The door-keeper scratched his head.
Ascending a flight of stone steps, the Captain came to a landing, a door opening upon it. The door was ajar and bore no number, but voices might be heard proceeding from the room beyond. O’Hagan rapped, and opened the door.
Several gentlemen, in several stages of undress, all looked up from their several toilettes.
“I fear I intrude,” said O’Hagan, holding his monocle before his right eye and examining the occupants of the apartment with a kind of genial curiosity. “I wish to find room number six.”
“Next floor, second door,” volunteered a young man in underwear.
“I am indebted.”
O’Hagan withdrew and proceeded upstairs. Room six showed a closed door. O’Hagan knocked.
“Who’s there?” inquired a masculine voice.
O’Hagan entered.
A golden-headed lady, who was arranging a rare exotic in hats upon her elaborate coiffure, fixed wondering eyes upon the intruder. A maid glanced up from where she knelt beside a large basket; and a dark-haired, perfectly groomed young man, of military bearing, rose hurriedly from his seat upon a second and even larger basket.