He stood mute, lips pendent, his eyes bulging forward as if gazing at an apparition.

Cooper and Fanwell, following his gaze, beheld the door standing ajar and revealing a man's form with one hand on the knob, the other braced against the jamb.

Evidently the newcomer had changed his mind after opening the door, and was about to close it softly, without revealing himself.

On being discovered, however, he came forward boldly, shutting the door after him.
With his back against the portal he surveyed the three men in the room, but without a gleam of recognition in his eyes.
"Well--who are you ?" brusquely demanded Collins.
"I am Detective-Lieutenant Britz," the visitor said in even tones.

"Sit down, Collins!".