Mr. Culpepper was suddenly recalled to them by a sudden, triumphant cry that issued from the inner reaches of the abandoned office. In a body they turned back and crowded through the door.
"Fancy that!" the little man was shouting. "Just fancy that!" A smile of amazement was on his sharp-featured face.
"Have you got it?" Marc asked, running to his side.
"I certainly have," Mr. Culpepper said happily. "It was a very difficult experiment, but I got it. And will you be surprised!"
"What has he got?" Chadwick asked.
"Perhaps it would be better not to ask," Agatha said. "From the way he's been behaving it might be anything."
Chadwick nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised. Besides, we've other fish to fry now. Let's be on our way." He started to the door. "I'll get the car started and you bring them down."
When he had gone, Agatha stepped over to the doorway and motioned with her gun. "Come, come," she said brightly. "Time to be leaving, everyone."
Toffee promptly took to the stairs, but Marc and Mr. Culpepper seemed to hesitate, too absorbed in a whispered conversation to take much note of anything else.
"You could have knocked me over with a noodle," Mr. Culpepper was saying. "I simply couldn't believe it at first."