There was a squeal and a crash as the chair
went over and Richard broke into a laugh.

"Look here, Laurence," he said. "I've had enough of your practical
jokes tonight. You'll get hurt one of these days if you go on being so
funny."

And without warning the lights went up.

Laurence was scrambling to his feet, rubbing the back of his head
ruefully, and there were two other men in the room. The first was a
stranger to Richard and the second, who stood by the door, was one of
the servants. The stranger was a shrewd-looking young man of
moderately prepossessing appearance. He nodded to Richard as to an old
acquaintance.

"We meet again," he remarked affably, "though you don't appear to
recognise me."

"Well you're not much to remember," replied Richard whose temper was a
little frayed.

"My name is Smith. Had the honour of sharing your taxi to Hendon the
other day. You were good enough to ask me in for a drink."

It was clearly the moment to be noncommittal.

"If you've come to get it," said Richard, "you'll be unlucky."

"Just thought I'd like to take a look at you, that's all."

He rose to his feet, for he had been occupying the second chair and
scanned Richard's face closely. A shadow of perplexity showed in the
wrinkles of his forehead.

"Sorry I'm not looking my best," said Richard, with an uneasy feeling
of having been detected.

"Hm!" said the young man called Smith, "I'm not very often wrong about
things like that but I can't remember those humorous lines at the
corners of your eyes."

"Ah!" said Richard, "but I hadn't seen the humour of the situation when
last we met."

"Bad light, I suppose," the young man nodded. "Still, it's rather
surprising. Thanks, Mr. Laurence, I think that'll do. Goodnight, sir."

"Oh, goodnight. Drop in whenever you feel like it."

"I may." He moved toward the door then turned suddenly. "By the way,
I've a message for you."

"Yes?"

"Pineapple." He spoke the word incisively.

Richard shook his head.

"Haven't the smallest idea what you mean," he said, "but not to seem
lacking in appreciation, bananas or any other fruit you've a fancy for."

The door opened and closed behind the three retreating forms and once
again the room was plunged into darkness.

The business of getting into bed was embarrassed by the constant
reverses of light into darkness and back again. There appeared to be
no specified period for either--sometimes the light would bu