Pinto went off to make preparations for the journey. He had one of the top flats in the Albemarle building, a suite of rooms which, if they were not as expensively furnished as the colonel's, were more artistic. He had recently acquired the services of a new "daily valet"--a step he could take without fear that his secrets would be betrayed, since he had no secrets in his own rooms, kept no documents of any kind, and received no visitors. The man opened the door to his ring. "No, sir, nobody has been," said the servant in answer to his query, and Pinto was relieved. For the past two days he had been living in a condition bordering on panic. It seemed unlikely that the colonel's confidence would be justified and that the police would take no action. And yet the incredible had happened. There had not been so much as an inquiry; and not once, though he had been on his guard, had he detected one shadow trailing him. His spirits rose, and he whistled cheerfully as he directed the packing of his trunk, for he was travelling North fully equipped for any social event which might await him. "I am going to Yorkshire," he explained. "I'll give you my address before I leave, and you can let me know if there are any inquiries and who the inquirers were." "Certainly, sir," said the man respectfully, and Pinto eyed him approvingly. "I think you'll suit me, Cobalt," he said. "My last valet was rather a fool and inclined to stick his nose into business which did not concern him." The man smiled. "I shan't trouble you that way, sir," he said. "Of course, there's nothing to hide," said Pinto with a shrug, "but you know what people are. They think that because you're associated in business with Colonel Boundary you're up to all sorts of tricks." "That's what Mr. Snakit said, sir," remarked the man. "Snakit?" said the puzzled Pinto. "Who the devil is Snakit?" Then he remembered the little detective whom Maisie had employed and who had been bought over by the colonel. "Oh, you see him, do you?" he asked carelessly. "He comes up, sir, now and again. He's the colonel's valet, isn't he, sir?" Pinto grinned. "Not exactly," he said. "I shouldn't discuss things with Snakit. That man is quite reliable and----" "Anyway, sir, I should not discuss your business," said the valet with dignity. He finished packing and, after assisting his master to dress, was dismissed for the night. "A useful fellow, that," thought Pinto, as the door closed behind the man. The "useful fellow" reached the street and, after walking a few hundred yards, found a disengaged taxi and gave an address. Maisie White was writing when her bell rang. It rang three times--two long and one short peals--and she went downstairs to admit her visitor. She did not speak until she was back in her room, and then she faced the polite little man whom Pinto had called Cobalt. "Well, Mr. Grey," she said.