“Would he be safe in the Grey Room?” said Sir Walter.

“He’d be safe anywhere.  The question in my mind is whether our silver’s safe; and a few other things.  I catched him poking about in the silver table only this morning.  He knows what’s what.  He knows everything.  I wouldn’t say he ain’t one of the swell mob myself—­made up to look like an old man.  I’ll swear he’s never seen eighty years for all he pretends.”

Henry laughed.

“Don’t you be frightened of him, Masters; he’s all right.”

“Let him go in the Grey Room by all means, Mr. Henry.  He knows he’s safe anywhere.  Yes, Sir Walter, he knows he’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.”