The colonel drew down the blinds with a crash and began pacing the room. He stopped at the farther end and looked at the wall. "Do you know, I've often wondered why Jack o' Judgment damaged that wall?" he said. "He's got me guessing, and I've been guessing ever since." "You thought it was a freak?" said Pinto, glad to keep his master off the subject of his Huddersfield blunder. The colonel shook his head. "I shouldn't think it was that," he said. "It was not like Jack o' Judgment to do freakish things. He has an object in everything he does." "Perhaps it was to get you out of the room for the morning and make a search for your papers," suggested Pinto. Again the colonel shook his head. "He knows me better than that. He knew very well that I would shift every document from the room and that there was nothing for his bloodhounds to discover." He thought a moment, pulling at his long, yellow moustache. "Maybe," he said to himself, "maybe----" "Maybe what?" asked Pinto. "The workmen may have been up to some kind of dodge. They might have been policemen for all I know." He shrugged his shoulders. "Anyway, that's long ago, and if he'd made a discovery, why, I think we should have heard about it. Now, Pinto,"--his tone changed--"I'm not going to talk to you about Crotin. You've made a proper mess of it, and I ought never to have sent you. We have two matters to settle. Crewe wants to get out, and I think you're getting ready to bolt." "Me?" said Pinto with virtuous indignation. "Do you imagine I should leave you, colonel, if you were in for a bad time?" "Do I imagine it?" The colonel laughed. "Don't be a fool. Sit down. When did you see Lollie Marsh last?" Pinto considered. "I haven't seen her for weeks." "Neither have I," said the colonel. "Of course she has an excuse for staying away. She never comes unless she's sent for. If we've got a mug we want to lead down the easy path, why, there's nobody in London who can do it like Lollie. And I understand you had some disagreement with the young lady over Maisie White?" "She interfered----" began Pinto. "And probably saved your life," remarked the colonel meaningly. "No, you have no kick against Lollie for that." He pulled open the drawer of his desk, took out a card and wrote rapidly. "I'll put Snakit on her trail," he said. "Snakit!" said the other contemptuously. "He's all right for this kind of work," said the colonel, alluding to the little detective whom he had bought over from Maisie White's service. "Snakit can trail her. He does nothing for his keep, and Lollie doesn't know him, does she?" "I don't think so," said Pinto absently. "If you believe that Lollie is double-crossing you, why don't you----" "I'll write to you when I want any suggestions as to how to run my business," said the colonel unpleasantly. "Where does Lollie live?" "Tavistock Avenue," said Pinto. "I wish you'd be a little more decent to me, colonel. I'm trying to play the game by you."