more raised behind the
judas:

"Kindly have patience, gentle sir. I was even now about to open."

Diogenes heard the drawing of more than one heavy bolt, then the
grinding of a key in the lock; after which the door was partially
opened, and a thin face with hooked nose and sunken cheeks appeared in
the aperture.

To imagine that any man could hold a door against Diogenes when he
desired to pass through it was to be totally unacquainted with that
philosopher. He certainly would have smashed in the door of Ben Isaje's
abode with his powerful shoulders had it been kept persistently closed
against him; but as it was, he only gave it a push with his knee,
flinging it wide open thereby, and then stepped coolly into the narrow
ill-lighted passage.

There was a blank wall each side of him, and a door lower down on the
left; straight ahead a narrow ladder-like staircase was half lost in the
gloom.

The anxious janitor had hastily retreated down the dark passage at sight
of the towering figure which now confronted him, and in his fright he
must have dropped the lanthorn which apparently he had been carrying.
There it lay on the floor, fortunately still alight, so Diogenes picked
it up and holding it high above his head he took a closer survey of the
man.

"You are Ben Isaje," he said calmly, as he held the light close to the
man's face and then let it travel over his spare and shrinking form;
"your dress and nose do proclaim your race. Then pray tell me what was
the use of making such a to-do, seeing that I had business with you and
therefore meant to come in.... Now take this lanthorn and lock your
front door again, after which you had best conduct me to a room where I
can talk privately with you."

No doubt there was something in the stranger's face and attitude which
re-assured the Jew, for after a few more seconds of anxious hesitancy,
he did take the lanthorn from Diogenes' hand and then shuffled back to
the street door which he once more carefully barred and bolted.

After which with the aid of one of the many large keys which hung by a
steel chain in a bunch from his waist, he unlocked the door in the
passage and standing a little to one side he bade his belated guest walk
in.

CHAPTER XXVIII

CHECK

The room into which Diogenes now stepped looked at first sight to be
almost devoid of furniture: it was only when the Jew had entered and
placed the lanthorn down upon a wooden table at one end of the