“Hands up, or I’ll fire!”

At the first sibilant of the words, the light went out, and then:

“Don’t shoot, guv’nor. It’s a cop!”

“Don’t shout, you fool!” hissed Gordon. “There’s a man sleeping in the room—where’s your gun?”

“Don’t carry a gun.”

“What are you doing here?”

The unknown burglar’s impatient click of lips was certainly called for.

“Don’t ask silly questions—I said it was a cop, didn’t I?”

Gordon groped for the flash-lamp and turned it full on the man’s face.

“I know you,” he said immediately.