"They said he was always at home," repeated Ilingsworth, knocking gently at the door.
A moment more and the door was suddenly thrust open, flooding the hall with light, and a woman, wearing a hat and a long coat, stood in the doorway. It was Madeline Braine.
For a second that lapsed into another, the women stood staring at each other, but did not speak.
"I was just going home," finally announced Miss Braine. "I——"
"It isn't true, then, you don't live here?" faltered Ilingsworth, blurting out things in his excitement that should have been left unsaid.
"Were you looking for me?" asked the woman. "I live at...."
"For Mr. Beekman," interrupted Leslie, in a low voice. "Can we find him here?"
Madeline Braine pressed her hand against her lips.
"He's asleep," she whispered. "They're both asleep."
"Both!" The exclamation fell from Leslie's lips.