"Where does Loeb sleep?"
"I do not know." He detected a new note in her voice, and at once put it down to fear.
"You still insist that I am not to call on the authorities for help?"
"Yes, yes! That must not even be considered. I have not only myself to consider, Mr. Barnes. I am a very small atom in--"
"All right! We'll get along without them," he said cheerily. "Afterwards we will discuss the importance of atoms."
"And your reward as well, Mr. Barnes," she said. Her voice trailed off into an indistinct murmur. He heard the receiver click on the hook, and, after calling "hello" twice, hung up his own with a sigh. Evidently O'Dowd had warned her of the approach of a less considerate person than himself.