`But that's what I was going to tell you!" she said excitedly. "I got so wrapped up in this that I couldn't. You remember I said I had good news? It hasn't got anything to do with Rainger being guilty or not, it doesn't concern Rainger, but — “
She whirled round, in hex overwrought state of nerves nearly crying out. Outside in the driveway, under the portecochere, had burst a churning and back-firing of cold motors as the last protesting newspapermen were shooed down towards the highroad before the bellow of Inspector Potter. But that was not what they heard that brought them up highstrung and staring.
"It sounded” said Katharine, and could not go on.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Silver Triangle
For a part of that noise there was no name: a rather horrible gobbling sound that might have been a strangled cry, a choke, or even suppressed mirth. You could not tell whether it came from near or far away, but a sort of muffled bump followed it. Bennett felt his skin go hot despite the chill room.
Motor-gears ground under the porte-cochere, but it was no part of that. He went to the door and threw it open.
"Was it-?" said Katharine. "Don't go out!"
The gallery was dark now. He saw it with the same eerie sense of close tragedy growing again.
"Shouldn't be dark," he said. "There were lights on a moment ago. I had a crazy idea that somebody, you know who, might be standing outside listening to us. So I looked out… What do you mean, don't go out? This is your own home, isn't it? Nothing to be afraid of in your own home."