After a long wait, the maid returned and opened the gate for Vale to enter.
"Mr. Barney is waiting for you in the living room, sir..." The maid didn't finish her sentence as she didn't know the young man's name.
"My name is Vale," he introduced himself.
The maid nodded, trying to remember Vale's name. "Mr. Vale, you may follow me."
As Vale entered the house's courtyard, the maid closed the gate. The courtyard was spacious, with a stable of dozens of red-maned horses in one corner and carts and carriages of various sizes in another corner, usually pulled by the red-maned horses.
Vale followed the maid into Mr. Barney's house, passing through a hallway displaying various expensive items, although Vale did not recognize them.
They arrived at a large room where Vale's attention was drawn to a man in his forties. The man was of average height, with a protruding belly and thinning hair, combed neatly but showing signs of balding in the middle.
