"They have taken out the bell from the side, sir, and changed the door, since I left."
Several of the policemen laughed, but Captain Daly did not, and said: "If you say so, Will, I'll believe you.
"Your dark lantern here, Gibson."
The man addressed handed over his lantern, and Will ran the light up and down the door-post.
"Here's where the bell-knob was, sir, and it's been plugged up as you see, by something that fits in."
"You are right, Will," and the captain gave the knocker three sharp blows.
But no response came, and Will said: "They'll not answer, sir, for they've changed this door to fool me, and they know I've escaped from that man I locked in his room."
"All right, we'll open the door ourselves.
"In with it, men!"