Quite so. Exactly,

　　"The house was so large and so rambling that a regiment might be hidaway in it and no one the wiser. If the secret lay there it wasdifficult for me to penetrate it. But the door which I had heard closewas certainly not in the house. I must explore the garden and see whatI could find. There was no difficulty in the way, for the old peoplewere busy in their own fashion and left me to my own devices."There were several small outhouses, but at the end of the gardenthere was a detached building of some size- large enough for agardener's or a gamekeeper's residence. Could this be the place whencethe sound of that shutting door had come? I approached it in acareless fashion as though I were strolling aimlessly round thegrounds. As I did so, a small, brisk, bearded man in a black coatand bowler hat- not at all the gardener type- came out of the door. Tomy surprise, he locked it after him and put the key in his pocket.Then he looked at me with some surprise on his face.

　　"'Are you a visitor here?' he asked.

　　"I explained that I was and that I was a friend of Godfrey's."'What a pity that he should be away on his travels, for he wouldhave so liked to see me,' I continued.

　　"'Quite so. Exactly,' said he with a rather guilty air. 'No doubtyou will renew your visit at some more propitious time.' He passed on,but when I turned I observed that he was standing watching me,half-concealed by the laurels at the far end of the garden."I had a good look at that little house as I passed it, but thewindows were heavily curtained, and, so far as one could see, it wasempty. I might spoil my own game and even be ordered off thepremises if I were too audacious, for I was still conscious that I wasbeing watched. Therefore, I strolled back to the house and waitedfor night before I went on with my inquiry. When all was dark andquiet I slipped out of my window and made my way as silently aspossible to the mysterious lodge.

　　"I have said that it was heavily curtained, but now I found that thewindows were shuttered as well. Some light, however, was breakingthrough one of them, so I concentrated my attention upon this. I wasin luck, for the curtain had not been quite closed, and there was acrack in the shutter, so that I could see the inside of the room. Itwas a cheery place enough, a bright lamp and a blazing fire.Opposite to me was seated the little man whom I had seen in themorning. He was smoking a pipe and reading a paper."

　　"What paper?" I asked.

　　My client seemed annoyed at the interruption of his narrative."Can it matter?" he asked.

　　"It is most essential"

　　"I really took no notice."

　　"Possibly you observed whether it was a broad-leafed paper or ofthat smaller type which one associates with weeklies."