"Say," he begged, "can I take a hand in this little discussion?"
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHECKMATE!
Of the four men, Selingman was the first to recover himself.
"Who the hell are you, and how did you get up there?" he roared.
"I am Richard Lane," the young man explained affably, "and there's a way up from the music-room. You probably didn't notice it. And there's a way down, as you may perceive," he added, pointing to the spiral staircase. "I'll join you, if I may."
There was a dead silence as for a moment Richard disappeared and was seen immediately afterwards descending the round staircase. Mr. Grex touched Selingman on the arm and whispered in his ear. Selingman nodded. There were evil things in the faces of both men as Lane approached them.
"Will you kindly explain your presence here at once, sir?" Mr. Grex ordered.
"I say!" Richard protested. "A joke's a joke, but when you ask a man to explain his presence on his own boat, you're coming it just a little thick, eh? To tell you the truth, I had some sort of an idea of asking you the same question."