opened no one appeared.
The note was lying in the entry.

"Will you mind," said Inspector Val, "if I call a man from across the
street?"

"Certainly not," replied Richard, somewhat astonished.

Inspector Val stepped to the window. Over the way a man was sauntering,
for all the world like a sightseer from out of town. He was admiring the
stately residences, and seemed interested particularly in Mr. Gwynn's.
Inspector Val made a slight signal, and the sightseer came over and rang
Mr. Gwynn's bell.

"Have him up," said Inspector Val to Richard. Then, as the sightseer was
marshaled into the room by Matzai: "Mr. Storms, this is Mr. England."

Mr. England's eye was bright and quick like a bird's; with that
exception he was commonplace. Inspector Val, without wasting time, began
to ask questions:

"Who shoved this note under the door?"

"A colored man, sir. He sneaked up and tucked it beneath the door as
though trying not to be caught at it. Then he pushed the bell and
skipped. The thing looked queer, and Mr. Duff thought he'd follow him.
He'll be back, Mr. Duff will, presently."

"That will do," said Inspector Val. "When Mr. Duff returns, tell him to
come in."

Mr. England withdrew, and recommenced his sightseeing on the opposite
side of the street.

"Mr. England and Mr. Duff," explained Inspector Val, "came down with me.
I shall use them to shadow Storri, as that kind of work is their
specialty. It is difficult work, too, and demands a man who has talents
for seeing without being seen. Also, he must be sharp to think and act,
and full of enterprise. To keep at the heels of a gentleman who may take
a cab, or a street-car, or enter a building by one door for the purpose
of leaving it by another, is no simple task; so I brought with me the
best in the business."

"How did your men come to be outside the door?" asked Richard, whose
curiosity concerning metropolitan detective methods had been sensibly
aroused.

"To save delay," returned Inspector Val, "which is the great rule in
detective work. They were within ten feet of us when I met you; they saw
us drive away, called a coupe, and followed. I should have given them a
jacketing if they hadn't."

Inspector Val asked Richard to slowly translate the note, while he made
a copy in English. This Richard did; at the close, being interested in
the workings of the man-hunting mind, he asked Inspector Val for his
theory of its truth and origin.

"Why, then," observed