It had been there all the time, if the truth be told, but Mr.Milburgh was a cautious man and took few risks.
Tarling was accompanied by Inspector Whiteside and another man, whom Milburgh rightly supposed was a detective.

Only Tarling and the Inspector accepted his invitation to step inside, the third man remaining on guard at the gate.
Milburgh led the way to his cosy sitting-room.
"I have been in bed some hours, and I'm sorry to have kept you so long." "Your radiator is still warm," said Tarling quietly, stooping to feel the little stove.
Mr.Milburgh chuckled.
"Isn't that clever of you to discover that ?" he said admiringly.

"The fact is, I was so sleepy when I went to bed, several hours ago, that I forgot to turn the radiator off, and it was only when I came down to answer the bell that I discovered I had left it switched on." Tarling stooped and picked the butt end of a cigar out of the hearth.

It was still alight.
"You've been smoking in your sleep, Mr.Milburgh," he said dryly.
"No, no," said the airy Mr.Milburgh.

"I was smoking that when I came downstairs to let you in.