"Front entrance, sir?"
Challoner started. The query was pertinent, frequently important,
sometimes vital. But in all the times that Challoner had driven to
Cradlebaugh's, never until now had this question been put to him. The
entrance on the street above, he was quite well aware, was for those
whose livelihood supplied sufficient reason for preferring the more
secret way, while the man-about-town,--such as he flattered himself that
he still was,--the credential-bearing stranger, even those whose
reputation might suffer, found that the arrangement of the main entrance
furnished them with ample protection. Nevertheless, far from feazing
him, Challoner felt that in some subtle way the question fitted in with
his scheme of things. For a shadowy purpose was slowly forming in his
mind--a purpose that required thought. His answer was of paramount
importance, he must make no mistake ...
"The rear--no," he quickly corrected, "the front entrance."
Before the main street door the driver pulled up his horse, and
Challoner hurriedly walked--as one whose nose was straight and who
followed his nose--into the whited sepulchre called Cradlebaugh's.
No one greeted Challoner as he passed into the main hall: it happened
there was no one present at the table that he knew. In the old days it
had been the custom of Cradlebaugh, the human spider, frankly to exhibit
himself in the middle of his net, his grim smile and dry hand extended
to each guest who came or went. But of late years--since he had shuffled
off this mortal coil--there had been no one to make these obsequious
greetings; for, though Cradlebaugh's still was Cradlebaugh's, its
ownership remained a mystery. And whether it was a syndicate, an
association, a reincarnated spirit, or a man, no one could tell. Of one
thing, however, its patrons were certain: there was but one
Cradlebaugh's!
For fully half an hour Challoner stood at the buffet, every now and then
unsteadily tilting the decanter. And while this course of refreshment
may have dulled his wits, it certainly strengthened his courage, for
presently he said to himself:--
"I'll try him, yes, why not?"