Lady Penelope knew when she began her career as a special agent that she would need an exceptional aid and helper.

She made surreptitious enquiries in the underworld, mingling with criminals and thieves.

The particular man her Ladyship was looking for had to be expert in a number of unusual fields.

Her self-chosen assignments required someone with the unquestionable ability to move just outside the law, for safes and locks needed to be opened... and keys and combinations were often unobtainable.

Then, at last, Penelope learned of the character who fitted the qualifications exactly.

He was reputedly to be the finest safe-breaker in the world, he was known to be loyal to a fault and he was an excellent mechanic. His name was Aloysius Parker sometimes referred to as the 'Nose'.

The approach was made, and after a few hours of gentle talking, her Ladyship's charm bamboozled Parker into life­long obedience and devotion to her every wish.

Even the long hours of social education which he had to endure did not upset Parker's respect for his new employer and teacher.

Then, after the first assignment, Parker knew that the weeks of rough edge smoothing he had undergone had been worth while, for never was there such a guvnor as 'er Ladyship!