He had not seen the six unknowns go down, for, the
evening being chilly, he had paced up and down, and they had by a lucky
accident chosen a moment when his back was turned.
"Come up immediately," he repeated.
Here a blast of tobacco-smoke rushed at him from the darkness. The
candle had been extinguished at the first alarm, and he had not
realised--though he had suspected it--that smoking had been going on.
A hurried whispering was in progress among the unknowns. Apparently
they saw that the game was up, for they picked their way towards the
door.
As each came up the steps and passed him, Mr Dexter observed "Ha!" and
appeared to make a note of his name. The last of the six was just
leaving him after this process had been completed, when Mr Dexter
called him back.
"That is not all," he said, suspiciously.
"Yes, sir," said the last of the unknowns.
Neither of the Irishmen recognised the voice. Its owner was a stranger
to them.
"I tell you it is not," snapped Mr Dexter. "You are concealing the
truth from me.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173