"Except Rush," added Armstrong, "and that ugly fellow we weren't introduced to."
"Well, then, I tell you what," said Pratt. "I'll go into the village in the morning and find out whether the car has left as usual. We want some eggs, and some spirit for the stove. I'll get that at Blevins's, and see if I can pump a little information out of him or his assistant. If Gradoff and the chauffeur are away the odds against us will be reduced, and with luck we might get into the tower in their absence. What do you say?"
"There seems nothing better," said Warrender. "Let us turn in and get four or five hours' sleep."
Soon after breakfast next morning Pratt went off alone in the dinghy.
"By the way," Warrender said as he was pulling away, "bring an ounce of pepper, and a large tin of sardines. We can't bother about cooking to-day, and sardines want a little condiment."
"A packet of mustard, too," called Armstrong. "There's none for to-morrow's bacon."
"Righto," shouted Pratt. "I shan't be long."
Arrived at the village, he made his purchases at the little provision shop, thrust them into his pocket, and went on to the general dealer's for a can of spirit. As he approached, he heard a high-pitched, angry voice from the depths of the yard at the side of the shop.
"You go at vunce, at vunce, I say. Ve hire your car; vat is ze goot? Always it break down, one, two, tree times. It is too much."
"Ay, and you owe me too much already," replied Blevins gruffly.