Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/245

 doubt. There was but one thing that he ought to do, and that was to pitch the man out of his room. He would have done it, but for the man on the other side of the door, to whose presence he was recalled by the turning of the door-knob. In which of these men did he place the greater trust? He had only to ask the question to let it answer itself. But this new menace? He would know it at its worst. That was beyond question.

"Pass through this door, into the next room," he said. "There you will find the door of a closet, which has a second door opening into this alcove. After he has entered and looked into that alcove, as he may, come out of the closet and—listen."

Cranston, on entering, did exactly what Matthewson had predicted; he examined the alcove before taking the chair to which Matthewson pointed him.

"There's no one in there," Matthewson said.

"I can't take any chances," said the other insolently. "What I've got to say wants to be between us two—you'll want it to be when you hear it."