the butler left the room for a moment in response to a ring at the front door. When he returned, it was to inform me that a man was in the hall, and wished to have a few moments' conversation with me. Asking Mr. Wetherell to excuse me, I left the room.
In the hall I found a seedy-looking individual of middle age. He bowed, and on learning that I was Mr. Hatteras, asked if he might have five minutes' private conversation with me. In response, I led him to the morning-room and, having closed the door carefully, pointed to a seat.
"What is your business with me?" I enquired, when he had sat down.
"It is rather a curious business to approach, Mr. Hatteras," the man began. "But to commence, may I be permitted to suggest that you are uneasy in your mind about a person who has disappeared?"
"You may certainly suggest that, if you like," I answered.
"If it were in a person's power to furnish a clue regarding that person's whereabouts, it might be useful to you I expect," he continued, craftily watching me out of the corners of his eyes.
"Very useful to us," I replied. "Are you in a position to do so?"
"I might possibly be able to afford you some slight assistance," he went on. "That is, of course, provided it were made worth my while."
"What do you call 'worth your while'?"
"Well, shall we say five hundred pounds. That's not a large sum for really trustworthy information. I ought to ask a thousand, considering the danger I'm running in mixing myself up with the affair. Only I'm a father myself, and that's why I do it."
