Therefore I very cautiously stuck my head round the corner, only to withdraw it instantly and remain motionless, soundless, against the door. It was a man who was approaching, his arms filled with bundles such as would indicate a visit to some all-night grocery or, more likely, delicatessen store; and his enormous height made him unmistakable. It was Sandro. All unknowing what awaited him, he ran lightly up the steps, glancing up and down the street as he did so. And as he reached the top step I fell upon him from the shadow, throwing both my arms round his neck and causing him to spill a half dozen oranges, which bounded down into the street and areaway--one of them, I later learned, striking Richard upon the head and thus giving him notice that he was wanted. "Sandro!" I cried. "Thank goodness you came home--my hat would have been ruined in another five minutes!" "Good Lord! Miss Talbot!" he stammered, making a futile effort to free himself of me. But I hung on like a leech. I feared that if I relaxed my embrace for an instant he would make a dash for liberty. "Oh, but I'm glad to see you!" I said. "Fear not, we know all, but are still your friends." By that time Peaches and Dicky were with us. Seeing this I let him go, and for a moment he stood there looking dazedly from one to the other, a side of bacon sticking grotesquely out from under one arm, a bottle of milk held firmly in the other hand. "Alicia!" he murmured, scarcely able to believe his eyes. "I don't understand. And Dick----" "Neither do we quite get it," responded Dick cheerfully. "That's why we are here. Just hand over the eats, old man, and let us into this palace of yours, where we can chin a little less conspicuously! Hurry now, before some unwelcome party tries to join us!" Spurred into a sort of hypnotic life the duke obeyed, finding a key and entering first. Peaches went next, slipping her hand through his arm as she went; and hastily picking up two of the oranges and a loaf of bread, which fortunately was nicely wrapped in glazed paper, I followed them, Dicky bringing up the rear and closing the door behind us. Then the duke turned on a light, after a brief interval which can only be explained by--well, it was probably Peaches' fault. At any rate he turned on a light, which disclosed a shabby, threadbare hallway, and then opening the door at his right indicated that we should enter.