"There must be a leak somewhere from the quantity you've burned. I'll
have a look around; might save your master a few shillings."

The man moved from room to room and started, at length, up the stairs.
John Steele closed and noiselessly locked his door; the "meter man"
crossed the upper hall and stepped, one after the other, into the
several rooms. Having apparently made there the necessary examination,
he walked over and tried the door of John Steele's room.

"This room's occupied by a visitor," interposed the servant quickly in a
hushed voice. "And he's asleep now; he wouldn't thank you for the
disturbing of his repose."

"All right." Did the listener detect an accent of covert satisfaction in
the caller's low tones? "I'll not wake him. Don't find the leak I was
looking for; will drop in again, though, when I have more time."

Their footsteps receded and shortly afterward, the man left the house;
as he did so, John Steele, pushing back the blinds a little, looked out
of his room; the man who had reached the front of the place glanced
back. His gaze at that instant, meeting the other's, seemed to betray a
momentary eagerness; quickly Steele turned away; no doubt now lingered
in his mind as to the purpose of the visit.

* * * * *




CHAPTER XVI