"Touched, my dear boy, touched," replied Willet, tapping his somewhat retreating forehead. "And getting worse, so I'm told. Triggs, his valet, told me yesterday it can't be long before they'll have to put him under restraint." "You've no idea where he's been the last few weeks, I suppose," was Johnson's next question. "Nobody has. He seems to have done the same sort of disappearance as his wife, with this difference, that she did take her maid, and he left Triggs behind. But he came back in the devil's own rage; been carrying on like a madman ever since. Triggs is going to give him notice; says flesh and blood can't stand it." Johnson parted from his cousin with mutual expressions of esteem and good-will. A few minutes later he was standing outside the open portals of Wrenwyck House, one of the finest mansions in Park Lane. A big party was evidently in progress. Carriages were driving up every moment to take up and set down the guests. Johnson could picture the beautiful hostess, standing at the top of the stairs, a regal and smiling figure. A humorous smile crossed his countenance as he recalled the one and only occasion on which they had met in the unpretentious lodgings on the Weymouth front. Well, that was one of the things that never would be revealed to her circle, unless she chose to confide it to her bosom friend, Mrs Adair. He took advantage of a momentary lull in the restless tide of traffic, to accost a tall footman. "I want particularly to see Lord Wrenwyck, if he is at home," he said boldly. "I daresay he will be at leisure, as I understand he shuts himself up when this sort of function is going on." The footman's manner showed that he was half contemptuous, half impressed. With the unerring eye of his class he saw at once that Johnson was not of the class from which the guests of Wrenwyck House were recruited. On the other hand, he seemed to possess an intimate knowledge of the private habits of its owner. "His lordship is in, but I should very much doubt if he will see you," he said with just a touch of insolence. "If you tell me your name and business, I will inquire." Johnson slipped a card into an envelope and handed it to this tall and important person. "I'm afraid my business is of too private a nature to communicate to a third party," he said quietly. "If you'll have the goodness to hand that envelope to his lordship, and tell him my card is inside, I think it's very probable he will see me." Five minutes later the astonished menial returned, and the contempt of his bearing was somewhat abated. "Please follow me," he said, in a voice that was almost civil. A moment later the detective was in the presence of the wealthy and eccentric peer.