"Don't you worry, sir!" Mrs. Bowers said, picking up the poker. "I just wish that Monk would come in, that's all! I'd Monk him!"
Celia nodded bravely. "Yes, that will be best. Don't waste any time, Charles: we shall be all right. There's nothing we can do while you're gone, is there? It's so awful to have to sit here so helplessly."
Charles was buttoning up his overcoat again. "I'd rather you stayed all together in this room," he said. "I daresay there's no reason for me to be alarmed about you, but I'm not taking any more risks. I'll be back as soon as I possibly can." He bent and kissed Celia's pale lips. "Keep your pecker up, old lady. I shall probably meet them in the avenue." He hurried away as he spoke, and the next instant they heard the front door bang behind him.
Charles went quickly round to the garage, and got the car out. He laid his revolver on the seat beside him, and after backing and turning the car, drove off down the avenue to the gates.
The Vicarage lay on the other side of the village, and Charles drove through the narrow, deserted street at a pace that made a solitary pedestrian leap out of harm's way. There was no sign of Peter and Margaret anywhere along the road, and since they had pleaded a previous engagement as their excuse for not joining the dinnerparty that evening, they would certainly not have gone into the Vicarage. Moreover the house was in darkness, and seeing this, Charles turned the car, and started to drive back the way he had come.
In the village street he overtook a bicyclist, and his powerful headlights showed this late plodder to be Constable Flinders. Charles drew up beside him. "I've got your case for you, Flinders," he said. "Can you leave that bicycle, and come up to the Priory?"
Mr. Flinders stared at him. "Lor', sir, what's happened?"
"Mr. and Miss Fortescue have disappeared, and I'd like you to go up and stand guard over my wife and aunt. Leave - no, shove it on the back seat. Can you?"
"Me bike, sir? It'll dirty your cushions, won't it?" the constable said dubiously.
"What the hell does that matter? Lift it in."