The Professor was lying quite still half underneath his bicycle.
"Is he killed?" asked Gabrielle, in a quiet awestruck little voice.
"I'M FRIGHTFULLY SORRY WE STARTLED YOU SO"
John bent over him, and unbuttoned his waist-coat, putting his hand inside. "He's only stunned. Take the case, Joey."
The Professor had flung it into his coat pocket; Joey took it out and gave it to John. He opened it, and took one of the unbroken bottles out, looking at it anxiously. "I expect this was what he worked in the Lab to get done unsuspected."
"Think he's got poisonous germs or something bottled there?" asked Noreen.
"I'm no chemist; but you bet it's some putrid game, like spreading a rotten disease by water. We've got to hand it over to the police any way, and some bacteriologist will tell us all about it. But first we'll have this chap into the car. Can you spare one of those sash things you wear? We'd better tie his hands behind him, or he'll be getting away when he comes to."
Three white braid sashes were at once forthcoming; John took Noreen's, and tied the Professor up thereby securely.
"Doesn't he look different without his moustache!" Noreen observed.