Morse looked at me.
"That's our system, Tom," he said. "At a certain hour all the servants go to the lower stage, except those that may be urgently wanted. For instance, there's a fellow in your house to valet you to-night. Juanita has her little Spanish maid, and I think Pu-Yi keeps some one. Otherwise we are all to ourselves up here. All the lift doors are locked on the second stage and so is the central staircase. Mulligan here is on guard all night in the room where you saw him."
"An' watchin' ye from the ind of me eye, Sorr Thomas," said the genial ruffian, "av ye'll belave ut."
"You're a good actor, Mulligan," I said—it seemed about the only thing I could say.
"Sure, an' I am that," he said, "I am that, sorr, but I'm a bether doer. An' av ye'd reely bin staling in—"
His immense fist clenched itself and he shook it in my direction.
"Mulligan, go back to the guard-room," said Morse, "you're drunk."
The giant's face changed from ferocity into pained surprise.
"But av course, sorr," he said, "it's me usual time, as your honor must know. But begob, I'm efficient!"
The mingled grin and glare on his countenance when Mr. Mulligan went away left no doubt in my mind about that.