It wanted some
five minutes to eleven when Tuppence reached the block of buildings in which
the offices of the Esthonia Glassware Co. were situated. To arrive before the
time would look over-eager. So Tuppence decided to walk to the end of the
street and back again. She did so. On the stroke of eleven she plunged into the
recesses of the building. The Esthonia Glassware Co. was on the top floor.
There was a lift, but Tuppence chose to walk up.
Slightly out of
breath, she came to a halt outside the ground glass door with the legend
painted across it "Esthonia Glassware Co."
Tuppence
knocked. In response to a voice from within, she turned the handle and walked
into a small rather dirty outer office.
A middle-aged
clerk got down from a high stool at a desk near the window and came towards her
inquiringly.
"I have an
appointment with Mr. Whittington," said Tuppence.
"Will you
come this way, please." He crossed to a partition door with
"Private" on it, knocked, then opened the door and stood aside to let
her pass in.
Mr. Whittington
was seated behind a large desk covered with papers. Tuppence felt her previous
judgment confirmed. There was something wrong about Mr. Whittington. The
combination of his lustrous prosperity and his suspicious eye was not
attractive.