Bill took the book obediently.
“No, give it me back. Just go out into the hall, and see if you can hear Cayley anywhere. Say ‘Hallo’ loudly, if you do.”
Bill went out quickly, listened, and came back.
“It’s all right.”
“Good.” He took the book out of its shelf again. “Now then, you can hold Ussher. Hold him in the left hand—so. With the right or dexter hand, grasp this shelf firmly—so. Now, when I say ‘Pull,’ pull gradually. Got that?”
Bill nodded, his face alight with excitement.
“Good.” Antony put his hand into the space left by the stout Ussher, and fingered the back of the shelf. “Pull,” he said.
Bill pulled.
“Now just go on pulling like that. I shall get it directly. Not hard, you know, but just keeping up the strain.”
His fingers went at it again busily.