"Thanks," replied Armitage. "Oh, Joe, will you mail this letter to the Department?" His voice lowered as he added half humorously, "It seems almost a shame to set the dogs on a man who may prove to be a benefactor." "What?" asked Thornton. "Nothing; good-night, Joe." CHAPTER X JACK MCCALL, AT YOUR SERVICE Armitage landed in Newport by the eight o'clock boat and calling a hack drove out to the house of the chief of police. The chief was at breakfast and came to the door with his napkin in his hand. He greeted his visitor with a broad smile of welcome. "Hello, Lieutenant," he said. "What's doing? Another of your boys you want turned loose?" "Good-morning, Chief. No, not exactly. May I talk to you a minute?" "Sure." The chief glanced about the dining room and closed the door with his foot. "Talk as much as you like." Armitage glanced at the chief with an admiring smile. He had never ceased to wonder at the multifarious qualities which enabled the man to remain indispensable to native and cottager alike. Courteous, handsome, urbane, diplomatic, debonair, when a matron of the very highest caste sent for him to enlist his efforts in the regaining of some jewel, tiara, or piece of _vertu_, missing after a weekend, he never for a moment forgot that it was all a bit of carelessness, which the gentlest sort of reminder would correct. This is to say that he usually brought about the return of the missing article and neither of the parties between which he served as intermediary ever felt the slightest embarrassment or annoyance. No wedding was ever given without consulting him as to the proper means to be employed in guarding the presents. He was at once a social register, containing the most minute and extensive data, and an _index criminis_, unabridged. As Armitage talked, the chief's eyes lighted and he nodded his head approvingly from time to time. "I see," he said. "It's rather clever of you. I 'll hold myself for any word. I can do more: I know Mrs. Wellington quite well. You can ask her to call me for reference if you wish. I 'll make you out a fine thug." "That 'll be fine, although I may not need you. In the meantime have your men keep an eye out for Yeasky. And," Armitage paused, "if Koltsoff--never mind; we 've first to prove our case." "Yes, that would be about the wisest thing you could do," observed the chief. "Good luck." An hour later Armitage stood in the servants' sitting-room confronting Miss Hatch, Mrs. Wellington's secretary, who was viewing him, not without interest. "Mrs. Wellington will see you, I think," she said. "She usually breakfasts early and should be in her office now." Armitage had an engaging grin which invariably brought answering smiles even from the veriest strangers. So now the crisp, bespectacled young woman was smiling broadly when Armitage shrugged his shoulders. "Mrs. Wellington?" he said. "I had an idea I should have to see Mr. Wellington."