No one came to the door.
“They must have gone out,” he muttered.
At the same time he pulled a skeleton key out of his pocket and inserted it in the lock of the door.
Two quick turns of the key and the bolt of the lock slipped back.
Carter entered the room, and struck a match.
As the flame flickered up, and after he had looked around, he uttered an exclamation of surprise.
Around him were all the evidences of hasty flight.
The birds had flown.
Carter lit the gas.
Then he was able to make an inspection.