"Be that as it may, I intend to make a few discreet inquiries," I replied resolutely. "I want you, if you will, to assist me." He smiled again in undisguised disbelief. "Of course you are at liberty to express your own opinion," he said with some reluctance. "And if you wish, I will assist you. But I really think, Garfield, that you will be only wasting your time--and mine." "I hope not," I assured him. "Were I not in possession of certain exclusive information I should not venture to come here from London and trouble you, as I am doing." Graham, whom I had known for a number of years, looked very straight at me. "What is the nature of this exclusive information?" he inquired. "You are concealing something, Hugh." "Yes. I know I am," was my reply as I smiled at him. "I am here to discover the truth regarding the death of Baron van Veltrup." "Then you suspect foul play--eh?" asked my friend. "Yes, I do," I replied in a low voice, "and I want you, Graham, to put me in touch with the Baron's valet." "He is a man named Folcker, a Swede, according to the newspapers. I dare say I could find him." "If you can, you will assist me very much. I must have a chat with him," I said. "I feel somehow that in face of the strange facts within my knowledge that he can give me the clue to the cause of his master's death." Graham smiled. He seemed to regard me as a person whose mind was not quite sound. But I will give him his due. He propitiated me, and promised to get into touch with Oscar Folcker. By virtue of the wide ramifications of the firm by which Graham was employed, I knew that it would be an easy matter, hence I was not surprised when next day he rang me up on the telephone to my hotel and told me that he had been able to find the valet Folcker who would call upon me at six o'clock that evening. CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH WHAT THE VALET KNEW At the time appointed, as I stood in the hall, a tall, clean-shaven, rather spruce young man entered and spoke to the concierge, who at once brought him over to me. I took him into a corner of the lounge, and when we were seated I told him of my suspicions and my quest. Like many Swedes he spoke English, and in reply said: "Well, sir, I was in the Baron's service for five years, and I knew his habits very well. He was an excellent master--most kind and generous, and with him I have travelled Europe up and down. We were very often in London, where the Baron had bachelor chambers in Jermyn Street." "I know that," I said. "But tell me what you know, and what you suspect concerning his untimely end."