We were now within a half block or so of the old-fashioned mansion
regarded by this scion of New York's aristocracy as one of the most
desirable residences in the city; so motioning to the man who had
accompanied me to take his stand in a doorway near by and watch for
the signal I would give him in case I wanted Mr. Gryce, I turned to
the woman, who was now all in a flutter, and asked her how she
proposed to get me into the house without the knowledge of Mr. Blake.
"O sir, all you have got to do is to follow me right up the back
stairs; he won't notice, or if he does will not ask any questions."
And having by this time reached the basement door, she took out a key
from her pocket and inserting it in the lock, at once admitted us
into the dwelling.
CHAPTER II
A FEW POINTS
Mrs. Daniels, for that was her name, took me at once up stairs to the
third story back room. As we passed through the halls, I could not
but notice how rich, though sombre were the old fashioned walls and
heavily frescoed ceilings, so different in style and coloring from
what we see now-a-days in our secret penetrations into Fifth Avenue
mansions. Many as are the wealthy houses I have been called upon to
enter in the line of my profession, I had never crossed the threshold
of such an one as this before, and impervious as I am to any foolish
sentimentalities, I felt a certain degree of awe at the thought of
invading with police investigation, this home of ancient
Knicker-bocker respectability.
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