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“It’s a gentleman calling on Mr. Slack,” wheezed Mr. Leary with his head over the balusters. He was getting so very, very hoarse. “I’ve been ringing his bell, but I can’t seem to get any answer.”

“A gentleman at this time o’ night!” The tone was purely incredulous.

“Yes; a close friend of Mr. Slack’s,” assured Mr. Leary, striving to put stress of urgency into his accents, and only succeeding in imparting an added hoarseness to his fast-failing vocal cords. “I’m his law partner, in fact. I must see him at once, please–it’s very important, very pressing indeed.”

“Well, you can’t be seein’ him.”

“C-can’t see him? What do you mean?”

“I mean he ain’t here, that’s what. He’s out. He’s went out for the night. He’s ginerally always out on Friday nights–playin’ cards at his club, I think. And sometimes he don’t come in till it’s near breakfast time. If you’re a friend of his I sh’d think it’d be likely you’d know that same.”

“Oh, I do–I do,” assented Mr. Leary earnestly; “only I had forgotten it. I’ve had so many other things on my mind. But surely he’ll be coming in quite soon now–it’s pretty late, you know.”

“Don’t I know that for myself without bein’ told?”

“Yes, quite so, of course; naturally so.” Mr. Leary was growing more and more nervous, and more and more chilled, too. “But if you’ll only be so very kind as to let me in I’ll wait for him in his apartment.”

“Let you in without seein’ you or knowin’ what your business is? I should guess not! Besides, you couldn’t be gettin’ inside his flat anyways. He’s locked it, unless he’s forgot to, which ain’t likely, him bein’ a careful man, and he must a-took the key with him. I know I ain’t got it.”

“But if you’ll just let me inside the building that will be sufficient. I would much rather wait inside if only in the hall, than out here on the stoop in the cold.”

“No doubt, no doubt you would all of that.” The tone of the unseen female was drily suspicious. “But is it likely I’d be lettin’ a stranger into the place, that I never seen before, and ain’t seen yet for that matter, just on the strength of his own word? And him comin’ unbeknownst, at this hour of the mornin’? A fat chancet!”

“But surely, though, you must recall me–Mr. Leary, his partner. I’ve been here before. I’ve spoken to you.”

“That voice don’t sound to me like no voice I ever heard.”

“I’ve taken cold–that’s why it’s altered.”

“So? Then why don’t you come down here where I can have a look at you and make sure?” inquired this careful chatelaine.

“I’m leaning with my head over the rail of the steps right above you,” said Mr. Leary. “Can’t you poke your head out and see my face? I’m quite sure you would recall me then.”

“With this here iron gratin’ acrost me window how could I poke me head out? Besides, it’s dark. Say, mister, if you’re on the level what’s the matter with you comin’ down here and not be standin’ there palaverin’ all the night?”

“I–I–well, you see, I’d rather not come for just a minute–until I’ve explained to you that–that my appearance may strike you as being a trifle unusual, in fact, I might say, queer,” pleaded Mr. Leary, seeking by subtle methods of indirection to prepare her for what must surely follow.

“Never mind explainin’–gimme a look!” The suspicious tenseness in her voice increased. “I tell you this–ayther you come down here right this secont or I shut the window and you can be off or you can go to the divil or go anywheres you please for all of me, because I’m an overworked woman and I need my rest and I’ve no more time to waste on you.”

“Wait, please; I’m coming immediately,” called out Mr. Leary.

He forced his legs to carry him down the steps and reluctantly, yet briskly, he propelled his pink-hued person toward the ray of light that streamed out through the grated window-opening and fell across the areaway.