Bates came, with laden hands, thinking the tray was in demand.
"Kindly post those for me," said Theydon, glancing at the letters.
"Better take an umbrella.

It's raining cats and dogs." The man had found the door open, and left it so when he entered.

Before he could answer, the door of No.

17 was opened and closed, with the jingle inseparable from the presence of many small panes of glass in leaden casing, and footsteps sounded on the stairs.

For some reason--probably because of the unusual fact that any one should be leaving Mrs.Lester's flat at so late an hour, both men listened.
Then Bates recollected himself.
"Yes, sir," he said.
Oddly enough, the man's marked pause suggested a question to his employer.
"Mrs.Lester's visitor didn't stop long," was the comment.