"We shall be three to two," urged Dick, despairingly.
"If your story's true," corrected Applebee, "we shall be two to three. What's this in your hand? A sword-stick?"
"No," said Dick, and his heart fell; he was beginning to realise the danger he was in, "it is not a weapon. I will explain everything at the proper time. Mr. Lambert, I implore you to search that house."
"Constable Applebee has spoken like a careful and sensible man," said Lambert, "but we'll see if we can equalise matters." Taking his police call from his pocket he sent his summons through Deadman's Court. "Blow yours, too, Applebee."
The first to answer the call was Constable Pond, to whom the affair was hastily explained; and presently they were joined by another officer.
"I see no harm in humouring Mr. Remington," then said Lambert. "Pond, you and this officer keep watch in the Square while we go into the house. There's only one way out of it, and there's only one way out of the Square."
"There's the wall at the back," said Dick.
"Which they've got over before this time----"
"Supposing," Applebee put in, "there was anyone to get over it."
"Yes, supposing that. When daylight comes we shall be able to ascertain if there are any fresh marks of a grapnel there." Dick set his teeth; his rope and grapnel were under the bed of his room in Constable Pond's house. "You wish to go into the house with us, Mr. Remington?"