"He came up almost on my heels." "I thought it must ha' bin a gentleman," said Bates.
"Why a 'gentleman' ?" laughed Theydon.
"I mean, sir, that the step didn't sound like a lady's." "Ah, I see." Vaguely aware that he had committed himself to a definite knowledge as to the sex of Mrs.Lester's visitor, Theydon added: "I didn't actually see any one on the stairs, but I heard an arrival, and jumped to the same conclusion as you, Bates." Tacitly, master and man shared the same opinion--it was satisfactory to know that Mrs.Lester's male visitors who called at the unconventional hour of 11:30 p.m.were shown out so speedily.

Innesmore Mansions were intensely respectable.
No lady could live there alone whose credentials had not satisfied a sharp-eyed secretary.

Further, Theydon was aware of a momentary disloyalty of thought toward the distinguished-looking father of that remarkably handsome girl, and it pleased him to find that he had erred.
Bates went out, closing the door behind him: he donned an overcoat, secured an umbrella and presently descended to the street.

Yielding again to impulse, Theydon reopened the window and peered down.

The stranger was walking away rapidly.