“It must be somewhere here,” she said.
“I expect he’s got it in his pocket,” he whispered.
There came a little flop upon the floor. Rosa had knocked off a time-table from the edge of the table. The man stirred in his sleep but did not wake.
“If he’s got it in his trouser pocket,” Hi whispered, “or even in his side pocket, we’re done.”
“Well, Hi,” she whispered, “come on down the back way through the cellar. Besides, I have got to get my flower basket.”
“Oh, dash, I had forgotten the flower basket.”
“Hi,” Rosa said, “there’s someone coming.”
They edged out into the hall as some of the hall lights went up. A woman with a broom came along the corridor. She took a good look at them, and Hi said, “It’s all right, thanks. I’m English.”
She seemed to think that it was not quite all right. She made a gesture to show Hi that he could rouse the porter.
“Si, si,” Hi said, “but it’s absolutely all right, thanks.”