"Ah," said Berry. "I'd forgotten the telephone. That's another vulnerable spot. I shouldn't wonder if——"
The sentence was never finished.
The hurried stammer of the telephone bell made a dramatic irruption, and Jill, who was in the act of drinking, choked with excitement.
In silence we listened, to be quite sure. A second prolonged vibration left no room for doubt.
"They're off," said Berry.
"I—I feel quite nervous," said Daphne. "Let Falcon answer it."
But Jill was already at the door....
Breathlessly we awaited her return.
Nobby, apparently affected by the electricity with which the air was charged, started to relieve his feelings by barking stormily. The nervous outburst of reproof which greeted his eloquence was so unexpectedly menacing that he retired precipitately beneath the table, his small white tail clapped incontinently between his legs.
The next moment Jill tore into the room.