"This mystery must be cleared up," said the secretary. "Is it a trick upon us, do you think, Sir Richard?"
"No, my lord, certainly not."
"Then we cannot go on until this is cleared up. You are armed, of course, Sir Richard?"
"Yes, my lord."
Sir Richard Blunt took from his pocket a double-barrelled pistol. There was now a sort of pause, as though each of those present expected the others to say or to do something which should have the effect of discovering what the singular noise portended. Of course, Sir Richard Blunt felt that in such an emergency he would be the man naturally looked to.
"It is absolutely necessary," he said, "that we should find out what this means before proceeding farther."
"Yes, yes," said the Lord Mayor, "no doubt of it; and in the meantime I'll run to the Mansion House and get some assistance, gentlemen."
"Oh, no, my lord—oh, no," said the secretary to the chief magistrate of the city. "We cannot think of sparing you."
"But—but—"
"Certainly not," said Sir Richard Blunt, who was keenly alive to the tone of irony in which the secretary spoke. "Certainly not; and as I fancy the sound which has excited our curiosity comes from about the centre of the pews, you and I, my lord, will go and find out who it is. Come, if you please, at once."