‘How about going through the cupboard passage to the box-room and then down the staircase into Dawlish’s room through the fire-place door?’ he whispered. ‘We might take him by surprise.’ Mr Campion appeared to hesitate. Then his voice, high and foolish as ever, came softly through the thick darkness.
‘Not a bad notion, doctor,’ he said, ‘but we’re too late for that, I’m afraid. Hang it all, our friends’ target practice downstairs must have given the old boy a hint that something was up. It’s only natural. I think we’d better toddle downstairs to see how the little ones progress. Walk softly, keep your gun ready, and for heaven’s sake don’t shoot unless it’s a case of life or sleep perfect sleep.’
On the last word he moved forward so that he was a pace or two ahead of Abbershaw, and they set off down the long corridor in single file.
They reached the head of the staircase without hindrance and paused for a moment to listen.
All beneath them was silent, the husky, creaky quiet of an old house at night, and Abbershaw was conscious of an uneasy sensation in the soles of his feet and a tightening of his collar band.
After what seemed an interminable time Campion moved on again, hugging the extra shadow of the wall, and treading so softly that the ancient wood did not creak beneath him. Abbershaw followed him carefully, the gun clenched in his hand. This sort of thing was manifestly not in his line, but he was determined to see it through as creditably as he was able. He might lack experience, but not courage.
A sudden stifled exclamation from Mr Campion a pace or so ahead of him made him start violently, however; he had not realized how much the experience of the past forty-eight hours had told on his nerves.
‘Look out!’ Campion’s voice was barely audible. ‘Here’s a casualty.’
He dropped silently as he spoke, and the next moment a little pin-prick of light from a minute electric torch fell upon the upturned face of the body upon the stairs.
Abbershaw felt the blood rise and surge in his ears as he looked down and recognized Chris Kennedy, very pale from a gash over his right temple.