This new turn of events puzzled Nick greatly. He returned to his home to plan out his campaign.
It was an old colored man who emerged from the detective’s house hardly three minutes after the latter had entered it.
The negro carried a pail half filled with newly slaked lime and a pair of whitewash brushes.
He crossed over to Sixth Avenue and there took a can to Fifty-ninth Street, where he got off and wended his way to Madison Avenue.
To the servant girl who answered the ring of the basement bell of Hilton Field’s residence, the negro said:
“I wish to see the young lady of the house.”
“Go away; we don’t want any whitewashing done,” exclaimed the queen of the kitchen.
“I don’t propose to do any,” answered the colored man. “I want to see Miss Mignon Field; she sent for me.”
“She is engaged.”
“It does not matter. You go and tell her to step downstairs for a minute.”