‘I’ve thought of that,’ said the indefatigable Kennedy; ‘we tie ’em up. I’ve been collecting portmanteau straps. That’ll do it, you’ll find. We’ll lash ’em both into chairs and leave ’em there.’
‘Yes,’ said Martin, ‘and next? When we’ve fixed up all that, what happens next?’
‘Then somebody takes charge of the girls,’ said Kennedy. ‘They lock themselves in some safe room – Miss Oliphant’s bedroom just at the head of the stairs, for instance. Then the rest of us form into two parties with a revolver each and storm the servants’ quarters, where, with a certain amount of luck, we shall get another gun or two. Then we can let out at some of these lads who amble round keeping an eye on us after dinner. We’ll tie ’em up and raid old Dawlish’s quarters.’
He paused and looked round him, smiling.
‘As soon as we’ve got everyone accounted for, we get the girls and sheer out of the house in a body. How’s that?’
‘Sounds lovely,’ said Mr Campion, adding after a pause, ‘so simple. It’ll be rather awkward if someone makes a noise, though, won’t it? I mean you might have the entire gang down on you at the one-gun-per-three-men stage.’
Kennedy snapped at him. He was thoroughly tired of Mr Campion’s helpful suggestions.
‘There just hasn’t got to be any noise,’ he said, ‘that’s the point. And by the way, I think you’re the man to stay with the girls.’
There was no mistaking his inference, but to Abbershaw’s surprise Mr Campion seemed to jump at the idea.
‘Righto,’ he said, ‘I shall be delighted.’