“Certainly, sir,” the elder smiled.  “This is Mr. Sparrow; I am Mr. Marston.  We would not have you put yourself to the inconvenience, not to mention the hazard from drafts.  You’re much more comfortable in bed—­and we can transact our business with you quite as well so; moreover if you will give us your word to lie quiet and not call or shoot, we shall not offer you the slightest violence.”

“I’ll do anything,” Harleston smiled, “to be relieved of looking down those unattractive muzzles.  Ah! thank you!—­The chairs, gentlemen!” with a fine gesture of welcome.

“We haven’t time to sit down, thank you,” said Sparrow.  “Time presses and we must away as quickly as possible.  We shall, we sincerely hope, inconvenience you but a moment, Mr. Harleston.”

“Pray take all the time you need,” Harleston responded.  “I’ve nothing to do until nine o’clock—­except to sleep; and sleep is a mere incidental to me.  I would much rather chat with visitors, especially those who pay me such a delightfully early morning call.”

“Do you know what we came for?” Marston asked.

“I haven’t the slightest idea.  In fact, I don’t seem to recall ever having met either of you.  However—­you’ll find cigars and cigarettes on the table in the other room.  I’ll be greatly obliged, if one of you will pass me a cigarette and a match.”

Both men laughed; Sparrow produced his case and offered it to Harleston, together with a match.

“Thank you, very much,” said Harleston, as he struck the match and carefully passed the flame across the tip.  “Now, sirs, I’m at your service.  To what, or to whom, do I owe the honour of this visit?”

“We have ventured to intrude on you, Mr. Harleston,” said Marston, “in regard to a little matter that happened on Eighteenth Street near Massachusetts Avenue shortly before one o’clock this morning.”

Harleston looked his surprise.

“Yes!” he inflected.  “How very interesting.”

“I’m delighted that you find it so,” was the answer.  “It encourages me to go deeper into that matter.”

“By all means!” said Harleston, pushing the pillow aside and sitting up.  “Pray, proceed.  I’m all attention.”

“Then we’ll go straight to the point.  You found certain articles in the cab, Mr. Harleston—­we have come for those articles.”

“I am quite at a loss to understand,” Harleston replied.  “Cab—­articles!  Have they to do with your little matter of Eighteenth and Massachusetts Avenue several hours ago?”

“They are the crux of the matter,” Marston said shortly.  “And you will confer a great favour upon persons high in authority of a friendly power if you will return the articles in question.”

“My dear sir,” Harleston exclaimed, “I haven’t the articles, whatever they may be; and pardon me, even if I had, I should not deliver them to you; I’ve never, to the best of my recollection, seen either of you gentlemen before this pleasant occasion.”