His right hand was half extended but his departing guest seemed not to notice the fact.

He merely nodded and put on his hat.
"It is a small world," he said, "especially, although it sounds paradoxical, in the big places." He passed out.

Granet listened to the sound of his retreating footsteps with a frown upon his forehead.

Then he came back and stood for a moment upon the rug in front of the fire, deep in thought.

The fox terrier played unnoticed about his feet.