MONSIEUR LOUIS

At three o'clock in the morning Groves, in a discarded dressing-gown of
his master's, opened the front door and peered cautiously out into the
darkness. Monsieur Louis, who was standing upon the door-step, pushed
past him into the hall.

"Your master has sent me back to fetch some papers," he announced,
displaying a bunch of keys. "I am sorry to disturb you like this, but
the matter is important. Please bring me a cup of coffee into the
library in half an hour."

Groves, who was sorely perplexed, stood with his back to the door which
Monsieur Louis had approached.

"Really, sir," he answered, "I scarcely know what to say. I am afraid
that I cannot allow you to interfere with any of my master's property in
his absence."

Monsieur Louis held out the keys.

"Quite right!" he said. "It is an awkward situation, of course. Your
master did not tell you the reason of his sudden departure, I suppose?"

"Not a word, sir."

"There can be no harm in telling you this much, at any rate," Monsieur
Louis continued smoothly. "Your master, through no fault of his own, got
mixed up in a very unpleasant affair in Paris, and he will have to
appear in the courts there. I am his friend, and wish to do all that I
can to help him. We have been talking the matter over, and I have
strongly advised him to produce some papers which I think will help him
materially. The police officer in whose charge he is would not allow him
to return, so he handed me his keys and asked me to fetch them. I can
assure you that I am your master's friend, and wish to do all that I can
to help him. If he had not trusted me he would not have given me his
keys, which no doubt you recognize."

Groves reluctantly stood on one side.

"I suppose I must let you in, sir," he said, "but I wish that the master
had sent me a line."

"We had neither pencil nor paper," Monsieur Louis said, "and the affair
was urgent. I must be back in Norwich by eight o'clock."

"I will prepare the coffee, sir," Groves said, turning away. "If you
require more light the switches are behind the door."

"Very good," Monsieur Louis said. "You need not have the slightest
anxiety. I am here on your master's behalf."

Groves hesitated, and looked for a moment curiously around the room. He
seemed as though he had something else to say, but checked himself at
the last moment and withdrew. Monsieur Louis drew a little breath of
relief.

He did not immediately proceed to