Then Larose said, "You have a Mr. Arnold Gauntry living here, haven't you? Do you happen to know what his occupation is?"
"No, sir," replied the man. "I know nothing about him at all." His pleasant face seemed to harden. "He never speaks to anyone"--he smiled--"not even to say good morning if I happen to meet him in the hall or upon the stairs. He is a very reserved gentleman."
Larose had already decided he could trust the man and thought now was the propitious moment. "Look here," he said, with his voice only just above a whisper. "I'm going to trust you. I've not really come to take any flat at all but only just to try to find out what I can about this man." He took a one-pound note from his pocketbook and held it out. "Now what can you tell me about him?"
But the caretaker made no mo
