Page:Barr--Stranleighs millions.djvu/187

Rh what he asked, declining either to meet Isador or to take part in his company promotion. How did you happen to overhear the conversation between Jack and Isador?"

"It was like this. The least-frequented spot in our club is the strangers' smoking-room. There is a deep recess on either side of the fireplace at the end of the room. In one of these bays a writing-table is situated, and in the other a very comfortable sofa. It usually happens that an electric light is burning over the writing-table, while the sofa on the other side of the fireplace is in darkness. Two nights ago, not feeling very brisk, I retired to the strangers' smoking-room, laid down on this sofa, and fell into a doze. I was awakened by voices I recognised, and knew that Mr. Hazel and Mr. Isaacstein, who had been dining at the club together, had come in for cigars, liqueurs, and coffee, as sometimes happens when the regular smoking-room is overcrowded. I gathered from what I heard that they were waiting for a stranger who had been unable to dine with them, but was coming later, and they referred to this man as Mackeller."

"Ah, another friend of mine. Peter, I suspect. What on earth was Peter doing in that gallery? By Jove, I remember now! It was Jack Hazel who first sent him to me with a letter of introduction which, I think, I refused to read, but I am glad at least I listened to Mackeller, who is one of the best.