Be ready with your guns,' said Dupin. "But don't use them or show them until I say.' The front door of the house was open, and the visitor was already half way up the stairs. The feet stopped for a moment, then began again, and a few seconds later there was a knock on the door of our room. "Come in, called Dupin, in a friendly way. The door opened and a man came in. He was a sailor, clearly a tall, strong man, with a sunburnt face. He was carrying a heavy stick, but no gun. He looked first at me, then at Dupin, and did not smile. Good evening, he said. "Sit down, my friend,' said Dupin. "You've come about the orang-outang, yes? My word, what a fine animal that is! You're lucky to own him. Do you know how old he is?' The sailor sat down and the worried look left his face. No, I don't know he said. "But he's probably not more than four or five years old. Have you got him here?' "Oh, no We couldn't keep him in this house,' Dupin said. He's at a place in the Rue Dubourg, just round the corner. You can get him in the morning. Of course, you must show me that you are the real owner.