It is the stock broker who speaks, and Billy Cutts, the renegade detective, is the one who creeps up the steps of the Lispenard Bank in obedience to his command.
"Is it all right, Billy?" whispered Cutts, the elder. "We want to get off the street as soon as we possibly can."
"All right, dad, come on."
The two men moved stealthily toward the steps of the bank.
"Squeak! squeak! squeak!"
Behind them a low, bat-like cry went up for one instant only, and then all was still.
"What the deuce was that?" whispered Callister, drawing back in alarm.
For the space of a minute all three stood motionless, Billy Cutts at the top of the steps, Callister and Cutts the elder at the foot.
The street was utterly deserted.
Nor was this strange.