Have courage, is what I should have said. Are you prepared to
fly at a moment's notice?"
"Yes."
"Then, keep your eyes and ears open for the next night or two. Can you
tell me where your room is located?"
"It is one flight up; the first of the two windows in my room is the
third to the right of the entrance. I am confident that some one is
stationed below my windows all night long."
"Are you alone in that room?"
"Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke occupy the rooms on my left, Mr. De Soto
is on my right."
"Where does Loeb sleep?"
"I do not know." He detected a new note in her voice, and at once put
it down to fear.
"You still insist that I am not to call on the authorities for help?"
"Yes, yes! That must not even be considered. I have not only myself to
consider, Mr. Barnes. I am a very small atom in--"
"All right! We'll get along without them," he said cheerily.
"Afterwards we will discuss the importance of atoms."
"And your reward as well, Mr. Barnes," she said. Her voice trailed off
into an indistinct murmur. He heard the receiver click on the hook,
and, after calling "hello" twice, hung up his own with a sigh.
Evidently O'Dowd had warned her of the approach of a less considerate
person than himself.
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