"Halsey," he said, "I am going out to lunch. At least, I wish it
to be thought that I am going out to lunch. As a matter of fact, I
shall return in about ten minutes by the back way. I do not wish
you, however, to know this. I want you to have it in your mind
that I have gone to lunch and shall not be back until a quarter past
two. If there are visitors for me - Inquirers of any sort - act
exactly as you would have done if you really believed that I was
not in the building."

Halsey appeared a good deal mystified. Laverick took him even
further into his confidence.

"To tell you the truth, Halsey," he said, "I have just received a
bogus letter from Mr. Henshaw, asking me to lunch with him. Some
one was evidently anxious to get me out of my office for an hour
or so. I want to find out for myself what this means, if possible.
You understand?"

"I think so, sir," the man replied doubtfully. "I am not to be
aware that you have returned, then?"

"Certainly not," Laverick answered. "Please be quite clear about
that. If you hear any commotion in the office, you can come in,
but do not send for the police unless I tell you to. I wish to
look into this affair for myself."

Halsey, who had started life as a lawyer's clerk, and was distinctly
formal in his ideas, was a little shocked.