The steward's house, however, was in darkness and there was no response when he tapped.

He turned the handle of the door and looked in.

A dim figure rose with a start from a chair.
"I hope you were not asleep ?" said Hardy.
"No, sir," said the steward, in a relieved voice.

"I thought it was somebody else." He placed a chair for his visitor and, having lit the lamp, slowly lowered the blind and took a seat opposite.
"I've been sitting in the dark to make a certain party think I was out," he said, slowly.

"She keeps making a excuse about Teddy to come over and see me.