But Laura shook her head, and an expression of horror came into her face. "Oh no," she exclaimed. "I would much rather stay here!" Katty had already got up, and was drawing on the gloves she had taken off. She felt strung up, fearfully excited--and very, very grateful to Lord St. Amant. She was quite unaware that for the first time the Commissioner of Police was looking at her with attention. * * * * * There were two entrances to Duke House, the one giving access to the four spacious flats, of which so far only one had been let, while the other simply consisted of a porter's lodge and a lift shooting straight up to the offices which were above the flats. And now, within ten minutes of their leaving Scotland Yard, they were all standing just within the second door, filling up the small space in front of the lift, for Mrs. Winslow at the last moment had begged to be allowed to get out of the car. "I don't feel as if I _could_ sit there--waiting," she had exclaimed, and after a moment's hesitation Sir Angus allowed the plea. Lord St. Amant noticed with interest that the Police Commissioner took no part in the preliminary proceedings. He left everything to the elder of the two men he had brought with him. Still, he lent a very attentive ear to what his subordinate was saying to the porter, and to the porter's answers. "I expect that it was you who answered the telephone message I sent half an hour ago, eh?" "Yes, of course I did--you mean about Mr. Apra here? Well, I told you then everything there is to say about him. He's a foreigner, of course--but a very pleasant-mannered gentleman. He took an office on the second day we was open. For a while he was here a good bit most days, and quite a number of people came to see him on business. Then he went abroad, I fancy I heard him say, and his office was shut up. He wouldn't let any one go in, not even to clean it, unless he was there. He explained as how his business was very secret--something to do with a Concession. He was nervous lest other folk should get hold of the idea." "When was he here last?" "Well, it's difficult for me to remember such a thing as that--I can't be sure that I could say he was here within the last fortnight, or perhaps ten days ago. Two or three people have called to see him. One gentleman came by appointment--I do remember that, because he'd been several times, and mostly this Mr. Apra was in to see him. But I don't see what call you have to ask me all these questions?" The Scotland Yard man bent forward and said something in a low voice, and the porter exclaimed, with an air of astonishment, "What? You don't mean to say the gentleman's 'wanted'?"