s safe enough. He's got the
measure of it."

"Prince is to go with him, Masters."

"Prince! Why, ma'am?"

"We don't know. He wishes it. He can't hurt poor old Prince anyway."

"Well, I sha'n't sleep no worse; and I hope none of you won't, if you'll
excuse me. Come what will, there's nothing in the Grey Room will catch
that man napping. Not that I'm against the gentleman in general, you
understand. Only I wouldn't trust him a foot. He's play-acting, and he's
no more a foreigner than I am--else he couldn't talk so fine English as
I do, if not finer."

"Masters is on our side, father," said Mary. "And he's right. The signor
is play-acting. He loves to be in the centre of the stage. All old
people do, and one of the pathetic things in life is that they're seldom
allowed to be. So he's making the most of his opportunity."

"And if you refuse, Uncle Walter, he'll only go away and say he cannot
help you, and accuse us of giving him all this trouble for nothing,"
added Henry Lennox.

They had their wish at last, and when Signor Mannetti came down to an
early dinner in splendid spirits, Sir Walter conceded his desire.

"Good, my friend! And do not fear that a night of anxiety awaits you.
Indeed, if I am not mistaken, it will be possible for us all to sleep
very soundly, though we may go to bed rather late. But I think we must
be prepared not to retire till after two o'clock. I will enter upon my
watch at eight--in half an hour. The door shall be left open, as you
wish. But I beg that none will approach the east end of the corridor.
That is only fair. I will, however, permit Mr. Lennox to station
himself on the top of the great staircase, and from time to time he may
challenge me. He shall say 'Is all well?' and be sure I shall answer
'All is well.' Could anything be more satisfactory?"

Signor Mannetti ate sparingly, then he donned a big, fur, motor-coat
and declared himself ready. They thought he had forgotten Prince, but he
insisted upon the company of the ancient spaniel. The dog had fed, and
he could sleep as well in one place as another.

"Fear not," said the Italian. "I shall be considerate to your ancient
pet. I do not beg his aid without reason. He is on my side and will help
me if he can--infirm though he be. I have made friends with him. Set him
at my feet. I will sit here under the electric light and read my Italian
papers."

Thus once again a solitary occupied the Grey Room and measured his
intelligence