Five minutes later the four men were once more on the secret stair.
"We'd better go up first, and make sure where it leads to," Michael said. "There's obviously a way into it from the first floor."
They followed him up the stairs until they came to a blank wooden partition. The usual knob was found, and as they expected the partition opened. Something that looked at first like a curtain was hanging just inside, but when Michael flashed the light on to it they saw that it was a dressing-gown.
"One of the cupboards," Michael said.
A sharp voice called: "Who's there? Come out at once!"
"Great Jupiter!" said Charles. "It's Aunt Lilian!"
"In that case, you can go first," said Michael, and made way for him to pass.
Mrs. Bosanquet, on the other side of the cupboarddoor, said quaveringly: "I am not afraid of you, and I warn you the police are in the house, and I have rung my bell!"
"Well, stop ringing it, Aunt," said Charles, emerging.
She was backed against the wall, but at sight of him wrath took the place of the alarm in her face. "Well really, Charles!" she said. "How dare you hide yourself in my wardrobe?"