“Why, you’ve taken the wrong turn,” said Alice nervously. “This is the direction from which we’ve just come. I’m sure of that.”
“And you’re quite right, Miss Mayhew. It is.” She sank back, pale, as if the very thought of returning terrified her. “We’re going back, you see,” said Ellery.
“Back!” exploded Thorne, sitting up straight.
“Oh, can’t we just forget all those horrible people?” moaned Alice.
“I’ve a viciously stubborn memory. Besides, we have reinforcements. If you’ll look back you’ll see a car following us. It’s a police car, and in it are the local Chief of Police and a squad of picked men.”
“But why, Mr. Queen?” cried Alice.
Thorne said nothing; his happiness had quite vanished, and he sat gloomily staring at the back of Ellery’s neck.
“Because,” said Ellery grimly, “I have my own professional pride. Because I’ve been on the receiving end of a damnably cute magician’s trick.”
“Trick?” she repeated dazedly.
“Now I shall turn magician myself. You saw a house disappear.” He laughed softly. “I shall make it appear again!”