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great advantage of stone stairs is that they don't creak. So the Colonel reflected, once more in his brown tweeds, as he cautiously felt his way down the iron hand-rail. He was in stocking feet, groping through the moonlight. He sat on the bottom step to put on his shoes. While doing so he had a sudden fright. The major domo emerged noiselessly from shadow.

"Don't you ever go to bed, Romsteck?"

"I was expecting you, sir. Is there anything I can do?"

"A clean handkerchief, perhaps. I think I caught a little cold in the moat."

"Here you are, sir. Also I've got some dry money for you. I take it that the bills got wet. Wet money seems suspicious, somehow, sir."

"Jove, you think of everything. I dare say you're just rolling in coin."