‘Then the affair becomes very simple. Lavender’s luck, sir, Lavender’s luck. So, if you have an hour or two to spare, I will ask you to go with me to a certain humble residence, from the windows of which two of my men are keeping watch on a certain door, in a certain garden-wall, not very many miles from here.’ ‘In Chelsea?’ I said—the question surprised out of me by his words, before I had time to consider the wisdom of asking it. ‘Just so, sir—in Chelsea—you’ve hit the right nail on the head.’ And, for all his soothing voice and fatherly smile, the detective’s grey eyes grew uncommonly keen and bright. ‘Pray may I ask, have you any particular interest in a door in a garden-wall giving access to a queerly stowed-away little house in a Chelsea side street?’ Clearly there was nothing for it but to put him in full possession of the facts; at the same time urging him to bear in mind the relation in which the inhabitant of that same queerly stowed-away dwelling stood, or was supposed to stand, to Lord Hartover. He considered, for some minutes in silence, rubbing his hand slowly over his chin. Then— ‘This promises to be a more delicate piece of work than I expected. Either we must act together, fair and square and above-board, you understand, sir, without reserve on either side; or you must leave it all to me; or I must retire from the business, making the best case I can for myself to the authorities, and leave it all to you. It is a ticklish enough job either way. Now which shall it be, sir? The decision rests with you, since you are, in a sense, my employer; but I must ask you to make it at once, before I give you any further information. And please remember, sir, that while I am ready to do all in my power to meet your wishes and spare the young nobleman’s feelings, my first duty and first object is to bring the guilty party, or parties, to justice, whatsoever and whosoever they may be.’ It was my turn now to consider, since I could not but admit the soundness of his position. And I found myself, I own, in a dilemma. To leave all to Lavender appeared to me at once cowardly and somewhat lacking in good faith towards the dear boy; while to take the entire responsibility upon myself would be, I feared, both presumptuous and foolhardy. ‘No, we must work together, Inspector,’ I said, finally. ‘You may depend upon my loyalty; and I may, I am sure, depend upon your discretion, so long as the ends of justice are in no wise imperilled.’ ‘Well said, sir,’ he replied. ‘I believe you will have no reason to regret your decision.’ And we proceeded to talk matters over thoroughly, he asking me again for a careful description of Marsigli.—Tall, of good figure and distinguished appearance, as I told him, a genuine North Italian type, crisp black hair, clear olive skin, and regular features; a serious and courtly manner, moreover. Lavender consulted some notes.