"The assassin you mean?" "Possibly." "Well," said the detective, "there is something in that; but I doubt it, as the butler who keeps the rooms would not be likely to let anyone into them during the absence of his tenant. However, I'll see. Will you come?" "No, thank you," replied Darrel. "I find my detective fever has passed away." Torry uttered a prophecy. "On the first discovery of any note you'll get that fever again," said he. CHAPTER VIII. THE ROBBERY The rooms which belonged to Jesse Grent were in Duke street, St. James's, and were very comfortably furnished, in a plain and unpretentious manner. Evidently the dead man had been simple in his tastes, and, notwithstanding his wealth, had refrained from indulging in luxury. These chambers were looked after by the landlord of the house, a retired butler, who appeared dignified enough to be a bishop, yet who was plainly afraid of the law as personified by Torry. He answered the many questions of the detective with anxious humility, but the information he gave was worth little. Mr. Grent was a good tenant, he said, but capricious in his comings and goings which, in the butler's opinion, might be due to the fact that his house at Wraybridge was no very great distance from town. It was only when Mr. Grent was very late, that he remained all night at his chambers. On the day of the murder--it was a Saturday--Mr. Grent had notified that he was going to Italy, and would probably be away two weeks. It was at five o'clock that he had said this; then he had dined at his club, and evidently had gone to the theatre. The butler saw him when he returned at 10.30 in the evening. That was the last he saw of him, and he did not know if Mr. Grent had gone out that night. "But he did go out," said Torry, "and never returned. Could you not see in the morning that his bed had not been slept in." "Beg pardon," replied the butler--Meek was his name and Meek his nature--"but Mr. Grent was a very peculiar gentleman, sir. He told me never to go into his rooms unless he rang the bell, so, as he did not ring the bell, I did not venture into his rooms. When I heard that he was murdered I did." "And found the bed unslept in?" "Yes, sir. He must have gone out about eleven, but I did not hear him." "Did Mr. Grent ever receive visitors here?" "Sometimes, sir," replied Meek. "He had one in the afternoon of the Saturday--a tall dark gentleman who looked like a foreigner. He was in some foreign army, too," added garrulous Mr. Meek, "for when I took up his card to Mr. Grent I saw he was a Captain." "Captain Manuel?" "It was Captain something sir, but I really can't remember the exact name." "H'm," said Torry thoughtfully, "I have no doubt it is the same person I have in my mind. Any other visitor?" "A lady came sometimes, sir. She came shortly after the Captain on that Saturday." "And what was her name?" "I can't say. She never gave her card, and always wore a heavy veil."