The Duchess seemed to him the most likely source of information.

He dared not write asking her for this, for he was certain her mail was still being scrutinized.

The safest method would be to call at the pawnshop in person; the police, and his old friends, and the Ginger Bucks would expect anything else before they would expect him to return to his grandmother's.

Of course he must use all precautions.
Incidentally he was prompted to this method by his desire to see his grandmother and Hunt.

He had an idea or two which he had been mulling over that concerned the artist.
He chose a night when a steady, blowing rain had driven all but limousined and most necessitous traffic from the streets.