The latter appurtenance was one of those old-fashioned knob-and-wire tocsins, and its clangorous voice was calculated to arouse, not only the house whereof it was a fixture, but the neighborhood round about.

Inspector Val's second pull at this ancient engine brought Mr.Warmdollar, something bleary and stupid to be sure, but wide awake for Mr.Warmdollar.Once inside the hallway, Inspector Val told Mr.Warmdollar that he was a police agent, showed that ex-representative the gold badge glimmering beneath his coat, and concluded by informing him that all might not be well in the San Reve's room.

Inspector Val did what he could to frighten Mr.Warmdollar.It was necessary to tame that householder to docility, and what should achieve this sooner than a great fright?
At the fearful hints of Inspector Val--they were in his manner more than in his words--the purple nose of Mr.Warmdollar became a disastrous gray.

Beholding this encouraging symptom, Inspector Val delayed no longer, but bid him beat upon the San Reve's door.

This Mr.Warmdollar, nervous and shaken, did with earnestness, not once but twice.