There was a sneering smile on the latter’s face, while both Modjeska and Carter stared at him in dumbfounded astonishment. The Pole’s expression was perfectly ludicrous. His strange, brown eyes were open to their widest extent, losing thereby a lot of their sinister quality, his lower jaw had fallen as though completely beyond control. Carter was the first to recover himself. ‘What do you want?’ he asked. ‘I want to speak to you – and him,’ replied Carberry in his affected tones. ‘This is hardly the time or the place I should imagine for your purpose.’ ‘It is the right place and the right time, for my purpose is private and concerns you both.’ ‘Vell, shut the door,’ hissed Modjeska recovering his faculties suddenly. ‘Ve do not vant all the people in the hotel to know ve meet here.’ Carberry obeyed, and advanced farther into the room. Carter noticed that the Pole quickly placed himself in such a position that he was now between the intruder and the door.
