Page:Arthur Stringer - The Hand of Peril.djvu/181

 "I wish to see your master," was Kestner's final response.

"For what purpose?" inquired the crisp and tacitly challenging voice.

"On confidential business," was Kestner's reply. He was pondering just what pretext would appear the most reasonable.

"But the nature, please, of that business?" was the uncompromising query.

"Are you a servant here?" demanded Kestner, in his heaviest note of authority.

"The business, please?" repeated the Oriental, prolonging the ultimate sibilant into a strangely snake-like warning hiss.

"A servant here, a butler, has been stealing from this house. I have just arrested him."

The studious slant eyes did not move from Kestner's face.

"You are, please, an officer?"

"Naturally—and some time before morning I'd like to see your master."

Again there was that silent, combative stare of appraisal and counter-appraisal and then a chair was pushed forward,

"Wait, please!"

Kestner bowed and stepped over to the chair, but he did not drop into it. He saw the slim-bodied servant cross to the door, tap the panel with his knuckles, and step inside, closing the door after him.

Kestner was used to thinking quickly, but here was a dilemma where an immediate decision seemed