"One moment," said the manager, and picking up the telephone he called
the office. "It was, the office says, occupied by a Mr. and Mrs.
Davidson of New York City, who took it this afternoon about five
o'clock. They had made no reservation for it."
"Now as to their baggage."
The manager bowed and went out--to return almost instantly, a puzzled
expression on his face.
"Two new and cheap suit cases, each containing a couple of bricks and
some waste paper," he reported.
"Yes," nodded Harleston, "I thought as much. Mr. Banks, you will confer
a favour on me, and possibly on the government, if you will be good
enough to let this affair pass unnoticed, at least for the time. I'll
pay for the broken table and its contents, and a proper charge for the
rooms for the few hours they've been occupied. I overturned the table.
As for the rest--how I came to be here, and what became of the
occupants, and why the furniture was smashed, and why I have a slight
contusion in my cheek, and anything else occurring to the management as
requiring explanation, just forget it, please."
"Certainly, sir."
"Very good!" said Harleston. "Now wait one moment."
He went to the telephone and asked for Mrs. Clephane's apartment.
Her maid answered--with the information that Mrs.
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