Chapter 15

“God knows we have trouble and enough,” said Petrie, as the lift carried us to the third floor, “without the appearance of this unknown diplomat. I’ve never met a Mr. Fletcher. Can you imagine any reason why he should ask _me_ to accompany you?” “I can’t,” I admitted, and laughed, but not too mirthfully. As we reached the third floor the Nubian lift-boy conducted us to the door of Number 36, pressed the bell, and returned to the lift. The door opened suddenly. I saw a clean-shaven, thickset man, wearing a very well…