To his surprise he came out into what appeared to be a large cupboard. The air in it was insufferably hot, and it dawned upon him that he was in one of those hiding-places that are so often to be found in the sides of ancient fire-places. Doubtless it was just such another cache that had swallowed up Campion when he disappeared off the hearth-rug in the hall. Perhaps the mysterious passage behind him led directly down to that great sombre room.
From where he stood, every sound in the room without was distinctly audible.
Dawlish’s voice, bellowing with anger, sounded suddenly quite near to where he stood.
‘Speak!’ it said. ‘What do you know? All of it – all of it. Keep nothing back.’ And then, explosively, as if he had turned back to someone else in the room – ‘Stop her crying – make her speak.’
There was a soft, short, unmistakable sound, and Meggie screamed. A blinding flash of red passed before Abbershaw’s eyes, and he hurled himself against the wooden panel nearest him. It gave way before him, and he shot out into the midst of Dawlish’s inquiry like a hand grenade.
CHAPTER XIV
Abbershaw Gets His Interview
When Abbershaw picked himself up he discovered that he was not in Colonel Coombe’s bedroom as he had supposed, but in a smaller and more luxurious apartment presumably leading off it.
It was lined with books, and had been used apparently as a study or library.
At a heavy oak table-desk set across one end sat Dawlish, his face mask-like as ever, and his ponderous hands resting among the papers in front of him.
Before him stood Jesse Gideon, looking down at Meggie, who sat on a chair; a man Abbershaw had never seen before leaning over her.