"I've nothing to
do until nine o'clock--except to sleep; and sleep is a mere incidental
to me. I would much rather chat with visitors, especially those who pay
me such a delightfully early morning call."
"Do you know what we came for?" Marston asked.
"I haven't the slightest idea. In fact, I don't seem to recall ever
having met either of you. However--you'll find cigars and cigarettes on
the table in the other room. I'll be greatly obliged, if one of you will
pass me a cigarette and a match."
Both men laughed; Sparrow produced his case and offered it to Harleston,
together with a match.
"Thank you, very much," said Harleston, as he struck the match and
carefully passed the flame across the tip. "Now, sirs, I'm at your
service. To what, or to whom, do I owe the honour of this visit?"
"We have ventured to intrude on you, Mr. Harleston," said Marston, "in
regard to a little matter that happened on Eighteenth Street near
Massachusetts Avenue shortly before one o'clock this morning."
Harleston looked his surprise.
"Yes!" he inflected. "How very interesting."
"I'm delighted that you find it so," was the answer. "It encourages me
to go deeper into that matter."
"By all means!" said Harleston, pushing the pillow aside and sitting up.
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