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"That was what it sounded like, sir."

"H'm. Working a passage over-could that have been it?"

"That's right, sir," said Elsie eagerly. "He'd worked his passage over."

"Well?"

"And then Mr. Mark said loudly-sort of triumphant-like-'It's my turn now. You wait.'"

"Triumphantly?"

"As much as to say his chance had come."

"And that's all you heard?"

"That's all, sir-not standing there listening, but just passing through the hall, as it might be any time."

"Yes. Well, that's really very important, Elsie. Thank you."

Elsie gave him a smile, and returned eagerly to the kitchen. She was ready for Mrs. Stevens or anybody now.

Meanwhile Antony had been exploring a little on his own.

There was a point which was puzzling him.

He went through the hall to the front of the house and stood at the open door, looking out on to the drive.

He and Cayley had run round the house to the left.

Surely it would have been quicker to have run round to the right? The front door was not in the middle of the house, it was to the end.

Undoubtedly they went the longest way round.

But perhaps there was something in the way, if one went to the right-a wall, say.

He strolled off in that direction, followed a path round the house and came in sight of the office windows.

Quite simple, and about half the distance of the other way.

He went on a little farther, and came to a door, just beyond the broken-in windows.

It opened easily, and he found himself in a passage.

At the end of the passage was another door.

He opened it and found himself in the hall again.

"And, of course, that's the quickest way of the three," he said to himself.