Piccadilly, 12:30 o’clock.—­Just before we reached Fenchurch Street Lord Godalming said to me, “Quincey and I will find a locksmith.  You had better not come with us in case there should be any difficulty.  For under the circumstances it wouldn’t seem so bad for us to break into an empty house.  But you are a solicitor and the Incorporated Law Society might tell you that you should have known better.”

I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he went on, “Besides, it will attract less attention if there are not too many of us.  My title will make it all right with the locksmith, and with any policeman that may come along.  You had better go with Jack and the Professor and stay in the Green Park.  Somewhere in sight of the house, and when you see the door opened and the smith has gone away, do you all come across.  We shall be on the lookout for you, and shall let you in.”

“The advice is good!” said Van Helsing, so we said no more.  Godalming and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another.  At the corner of Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into the Green Park.  My heart beat as I saw the house on which so much of our hope was centred, looming up grim and silent in its deserted condition amongst its more lively and spruce-looking neighbours.  We sat down on a bench within good view, and began to smoke cigars so as to attract as little attention as possible.  The minutes seemed to pass with leaden feet as we waited for the coming of the others.

At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up.  Out of it, in leisurely fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris.  And down from the box descended a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools.  Morris paid the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away.  Together the two ascended the steps, and Lord Godalming pointed out what he wanted done.  The workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on one of the spikes of the rail, saying something to a policeman who just then sauntered along.  The policeman nodded acquiescence, and the man kneeling down placed his bag beside him.  After searching through it, he took out a selection of tools which he proceeded to lay beside him in orderly fashion.  Then he stood up, looked in the keyhole, blew into it, and turning to his employers, made some remark.  Lord Godalming smiled, and the man lifted a good sized bunch of keys.  Selecting one of them, he began to probe the lock, as if feeling his way with it.  After fumbling about for a bit he tried a second, and then a third.  All at once the door opened under a slight push from him, and he and the two others entered the hall.  We sat still.  My own cigar burnt furiously, but Van Helsing’s went cold altogether.  We waited patiently as we saw the workman come out and bring his bag.  Then he held the door partly open, steadying it with his knees, whilst he fitted a key to the lock.  This he finally handed to Lord Godalming, who took out his purse and gave him something.  The man touched his hat, took his bag, put on his coat and departed.  Not a soul took the slightest notice of the whole transaction.