“Half a dozen. Every point is well watched—I’ve seen to that!”
“Better make sure they’re there before we do anything,” suggested Anthony.
“Wait, then,” snapped Goodall. He was soon back. “All O. K.,” he declared very quietly.
“What I propose, then, is this—we four will keep well away from the entrance that leads to the front of the house on the Assynton side. We’ll climb the garden wall at the back—we shall come to it first, approaching from this direction, and once inside the grounds we’ll take cover—somewhere near the rock garden say. We oughtn’t to stand much chance of being spotted round there.” He looked up at the sky. “The moon’s in our favor!” Goodall appeared to be considering the plan very carefully. “Yes,” he said, after a pause, “I don’t think we can do very much better than that. I’ll go and have another word with Sergeant Clegg and wait for you under the shadow of the wall.” He was as good as his word, and shortly afterwards the four figures dropped silently from the wall and stealthily made their way nearer to the house. Not a glimmer of light showed, and the dim foreboding that the night was destined to produce nothing sensational smote Anthony for a brief moment. Then his reason reasserted itself and he shook off the idea of failure.
“Deuced peculiar way of entering my own garden,” muttered Charles Stewart.
Goodall put his fingers to his lips. “Silence—everybody—please—not a syllable—gentlemen.”
Suddenly a figure flitted out from behind a bush. Peter quivered with excitement. Anthony caught it by the arm. “That you, Patrick?” he whispered softly.
Goodall turned round again angrily, but Anthony held up his finger with a gesture that betokened silence.
“Ay, sir, it’s Patrick O’Connor. I fixed that little job for you—and father’s up near the window—as you told him, sir. Nothing’s happened yet, sir—I’ve watched since the time you mentioned.” Anthony expressed approval. “Fall in with us, Patrick—and as quietly as you know how.”
Two or three minutes later came another order from the Inspector. “Now sort yourselves out—and keep within half a dozen yards of one another—and nobody’s to move forward after taking up position unless ordered by me or Mr. Bathurst here.” As he spoke a light suddenly flashed and lit up one of the rooms. Peter started as he saw it. “Which room’s that?” he queried of Anthony in a whisper.