I guessed at you but I seem to have guessed wrong.

Good-bye!" He set down the receiver and rang off to escape further questioning.
Now indeed the plot was commencing to thicken.

This was a deliberate effort on the part of some one to secure his absence from his offices at a quarter to one.
With the document in his pocket and the safe securely locked, Laverick felt at ease as to the result of any attempted burglary of his premises.

At the same time his curiosity was excited.

Here, perhaps, was a chance of finding some clue to this impenetrable mystery.
There were thee clerks in the outer office.