He took the key from his pocket, unlocked the cupboard, and took out the boot. Then he selected from the basket a particularly battered specimen. Placing this in the cupboard, he re-locked the door. His next act was to take from the shelf a piece of string. Attaching one end of this to the boot that he had taken from the cupboard, he went to the window. His first act was to fling the cupboard-key out into the bushes. Then he turned to the boot. On a level with the sill the water-pipe, up which Mike had started to climb the night before, was fastened to the wall by an iron band. He tied the other end of the string to this, and let the boot swing free. He noticed with approval, when it had stopped swinging, that it was hidden from above by the window-sill. He returned to his place at the mantelpiece. As an after-thought he took another boot from the basket, and thrust it up the chimney. A shower of soot fell into the grate, blackening his hand. The bathroom was a few yards down the corridor. He went there, and washed off the soot. When he returned, Mr. Downing was in the study, and with him Mr. Outwood, the latter looking dazed, as if he were not quite equal to the intellectual pressure of the situation. “Where have you been, Smith?” asked Mr. Downing sharply. “I have been washing my hands, sir.” “H’m!” said Mr. Downing suspiciously. “Yes, I saw Smith go into the bathroom,” said Mr. Outwood. “Smith, I cannot quite understand what it is Mr. Downing wishes me to do.” “My dear Outwood,” snapped the sleuth, “I thought I had made it perfectly clear. Where is the difficulty?” “I cannot understand why you should suspect Smith of keeping his boots in a cupboard, and,” added Mr. Outwood with spirit, catching sight of a Good-Gracious-has-the-man-_no_-sense look on the other’s face, “why he should not do so if he wishes it.” “Exactly, sir,” said Psmith, approvingly. “You have touched the spot.” “If I must explain again, my dear Outwood, will you kindly give me your attention for a moment. Last night a boy broke out of your house, and painted my dog Sampson red.” “He painted--!” said Mr. Outwood, round-eyed. “Why?” “I don’t know why. At any rate, he did. During the escapade one of his boots was splashed with the paint. It is that boot which I believe Smith to be concealing in this cupboard. Now, do you understand?” Mr. Outwood looked amazedly at Smith, and Psmith shook his head sorrowfully at Mr. Outwood. Psmith’s expression said, as plainly as if he had spoken the words, “We must humour him.” “So with your permission, as Smith declares that he has lost the key, I propose to break open the door of this cupboard. Have you any objection?” Mr. Outwood started. “Objection? None at all, my dear fellow, none at all. Let me see, _what_ is it you wish to do?” “This,” said Mr. Downing shortly.