He's almost as bashful and retiring as you are." Hardy grunted.

"If the captain isn't in London, where is he ?" he inquired.
The other shook his head.

"I've got an idea," he replied, "but I want to make sure.

Kybird and Smith are old friends, as Nugent might have known, only he was always too high and mighty to take any interest in his inferiors.

There's something for you to go on." He bent over his desk again and worked steadily until one o'clock--his hour for lunching.