“Where are they now?”
“I don’t know. The lady was faint.”
The three had disappeared when the manager went out into a small courtyard that led round the corner of the building to a side street. Then he came back on a tour of inspection.
“Somebody did it from the yard. There’s a window open—you can reach the switch easily.”
The window was fastened and locked.
“There is no lady or gentleman in the yard,” he said. “Are you sure they did not go into the big hall?”
“In the dark—maybe.”
The waiter’s nervousness was understandable. Mr. Gurther had given him a five-pound note and the man had not as yet delivered the change. Never would he return to claim it if all that his keen ears heard was true.
Four men had appeared in the annexe: one shut the door and stood by it. The three others were accompanied by the manager, who called Phillips, the waiter.
“This man served them,” he said, troubled. Even the most innocent do not like police visitations.