Halsey opened the door. Laverick nodded toward his visitor.

"Show this gentleman out, Halsey," he ordered.

Halsey started. The noise of the revolver shot had evidently been
muffled by the heavy connecting doors, but there was a smell of
gunpowder in the room, and a little wreath of smoke. The man rose
slowly to his feet, still blinking.

"It must be as you will, of course. I wonder if you would be so
good as to let your clerk direct me to an oculist? I am,
unfortunately, a helpless man in this condition."

"There is one a few yards off," Laverick answered. "Put on your
hat, Halsey, and show this gentleman where he can get some glasses."

His visitor leaned towards Laverick.

"It is your life which is in question, not my eyesight," he muttered.
"Do you accept my offer? Will you give me the document?"

"I do not and I will not," Laverick replied. "I shall not part with
anything until I know more than I know at present."

The man stood motionless for a moment. His fingers seemed to be
twitching. Laverick had a fancy that he was about to spring, but
if ever he had had any thoughts of the kind, Halsey's reappearance
checked them.

"I am much obliged to you, Mr. Laverick," he said quietly. "We