"All right! Tell him I have gone out--had to go out.
Something important. You understand?"

"I understand, sir."

But before the words had been properly spoken Chilcote had
passed the man and walked into the hall.




III


Leaving his house, Chilcote walked forward quickly and
aimlessly. With the sting of the outer air the recollection
of last night's adventure came back upon him. Since the hour
of his waking it had hung about with vague persistence, but
now in the clear light of day it seemed to stand out with a
fuller peculiarity.

The thing was preposterous, nevertheless it was genuine. He
was wearing the overcoat he had worn, the night before, and,
acting on impulse, he thrust his hand into the pocket and drew
out the stranger's card.

"Mr. John Loder!" He read the name over as he walked along,
and it mechanically repeated itself in his brain--falling into
measure with his steps. Who was John Loder? What was he?
The questions tantalized him till his pace unconsciously