The two looked at each other in silence.
“The question is, were we overheard?” Roger said at last.
“Good Lord!” Alec exclaimed in dismay. “Do you think we were?”
“Impossible to say. I hope to goodness we weren’t, though. It would rather give things away, wouldn’t it?”
“Hopelessly!” said Alec with fervour.
Roger looked at him curiously. “Why, Alexander, you’re actually getting quite keen on the chase at last!”
“It’s—it is rather exciting,” Alec confessed, almost apologetically.
“That’s the spirit. Well, come off that bed and let’s get farther away from the house to discuss what’s to be done next. It’s not safe to talk near these windows, evidently. Hullo, you’ve made rather a mess of the bed. Steady! Don’t step on our two particular prints.”
Alec glanced ruefully at the bed, which was now embellished with several extra footprints.
“I’d better smooth mine out,” he said hastily. “They look a bit suspicious, all round that window, don’t they? Anyone can see that we’ve been mucking about here.”