Page:Arthur Stringer - The Hand of Peril.djvu/185

 the Secret Agent, as he calmly surveyed the figure in the cherry-coloured gown. It was not so antique a figure as it made a pretence of being.

"You have the advantage of me, young man!" piped up the thin and querulous voice, reviving Kestner's impression of the weather-beaten robin.

"I know it!" was the other's quiet-toned response.

"We've never met before," sharply contended the thin-noted voice.

"On the contrary. Baron Piozzo, we—"

"My name's Nittner, Updyke Nittner! You're mixing me with somebody else!"

"Possibly with Gibraltar Breitmann, who was interested in the Algiceras map-robbery," was Kestner's gentle suggestion.

"My home's in Saginaw, Michigan!"

"And your business is lumbering?"

"It is! And what is yours in this house?"

Kestner noticed that Sadie Wimpel had followed him into the room.

"I'll answer that when you tell me who this woman is!"

"That woman's my niece."

"Are you?" demanded Kestner, turning to the girl.

"Sure," was her solemn response.

The rotund and robin-like figure hopped out of its wing-chair with a celerity that was startling, and a change of colour that tended to add to its rubicund appearance. Then he clapped his two hands sharply together.

The Japanese servant appeared at once in the doorway.