Chick and Patsy exchanged glances and, by moving about the room, managed to get to the rear of it without attracting attention.
Standing at the other end of the bar, they ordered more drinks, and as they were served, several entered from the street and claimed the attention of the barkeeper.
Chick seized the opportunity to open that door and saw that it opened into a little courtyard on which the rear building was and that the lower floor of that rear building seemed to be a private stable.
He saw also that there was a winding iron staircase from the courtyard to the balcony or bridge, connecting with the house in front, so that access to the rear building could be obtained from that courtyard.
He came back and said to Patsy:
“Patsy, I think we ought to make a break for that rear building. That’s where Lannigan and his party have gone.”
The man with them overheard the remark and said, warningly:
“Easy goes in this place.”
Neither Chick nor Patsy understood his meaning, but were satisfied that the man knew more of the place than he had been willing to tell them, though he did not seem to be a friend of the house.
Disregarding his warning, whatever it was, they passed through the door.