"I see," said Ned, with a nod. "Well, I'll keep him in his chair for you."
"That's it."
They were walking quickly through the silent town under the windy night sky. It was a dark boisterous evening, not inviting for strollers, and they scarcely passed a soul till they were in the quiet road where the villa stood. There, from the shadows of a gateway, two figures moved out to meet them, and Cromarty recognised Superintendent Sutherland and one of his constables. The two saluted in silence and fell in behind. They each carried, he noticed, something long-shaped wrapped up loosely in sacking.
"What have they got there?" he asked.
"Prosaic instruments," smiled Carrington. "I won't tell you more for fear the gamble doesn't come off."
"Like the sensation before one proposes, I suppose," said Ned. "Well, going by that, the omens ought to be all right."
They turned in through Simon's gates and then the four stopped.
"We part here," whispered Carrington. "Good luck!"
"Same to you," said Ned briefly, and strode up the drive.