"Me?" said Pinto with virtuous indignation. "Do you imagine I should leave you, colonel, if you were in for a bad time?"
"Do I imagine it?" The colonel laughed. "Don't be a fool. Sit down. When did you see Lollie Marsh last?"
Pinto considered.
"I haven't seen her for weeks."
"Neither have I," said the colonel. "Of course she has an excuse for staying away. She never comes unless she's sent for. If we've got a mug we want to lead down the easy path, why, there's nobody in London who can do it like Lollie. And I understand you had some disagreement with the young lady over Maisie White?"
"She interfered——" began Pinto.
"And probably saved your life," remarked the colonel meaningly. "No, you have no kick against Lollie for that."
He pulled open the drawer of his desk, took out a card and wrote rapidly.
"I'll put Snakit on her trail," he said.
"Snakit!" said the other contemptuously.