If you'll open the front door for me," he added, "I may be able to get inside." A moment or two later Sypher was admitted, by the orthodox avenues, into the room.

He looked around him, his hands on his hips.
"I wonder what on earth this would have been like if our dear lady hadn't had a hand in it." As Septimus's imagination was entirely scientific he could furnish no solution to the problem.

He drew a chair to the fire and bade his guest sit down, and handed him a box of cigars which also housed a pair of compasses, some stamps, and a collar stud.

Sypher selected and lit a cigar, but declined the chair for the moment.
"You don't mind my looking you up?
I told you yesterday I would do it, but you're such a curious creature there's no knowing at what hour you can receive visitors.

Mrs.Middlemist told me you were generally in to lunch at half-past four in the morning.