Mary jumped half out of her chair as she looked up and saw the valet standing in the doorway.
"Please make a noise when you walk, or knock, or do something," she said, sharply. "You startled me."
Pete made a gesture for silence, stepped into the room and swiftly surveyed it.
"Where is Aunt—where is Miss Marshall?" he whispered.
"She went to bed long ago."
"Good! Come on, then; we need help."
"Who needs help?" demanded Mary, impressed more by the mystery of his manner than by his words. "What's the matter?"
"The boss is in the hoosegow," answered Pete, his voice tragic.
"What!"