"Sir," he said, "are you going to get on with this, or do I have to choke it out of you?"
"Now, now. Keep your shirt on, son." He looked at the other two. "This evening I told Masters and Agnew that I was gettin' Adams's chauffeur to knock me together a little article to use in my demonstration. Watch."
He went over to where his oilskin waterproof lay on the couch. He thrust his hand into the pocket. In two more seconds the secret would have been out.
But there was an interruption.
From somewhere upstairs a strangled cry, more like a scream than a cry, brought the blood rushing to their hearts and made them all whirl round. It was followed by a flapping sound, a series of thuds, and a hoarse voice.
"Got the bounder!"
Masters stared at H.M., the apoplectic color leaving his face. Masters' hand was lifted in the air.
"My God," the chief inspector said, "the fool's tried it again,"
Courtney could never afterwards remember which of them reached the door first. He thought it was H.M., but this seemed impossible for so ungainly a bulk. He knew that they all surged round it, and got wedged in the doorway, before they sorted themselves out.
Then, with Masters in the lead, they all ran for the stairs.