"He rung us up at the station and said that something or somebody had got into the house. It was evident the poor gentleman's nerve had broken down, sir. He said he was locked in his study. When we arrived it was all in darkness — but we thought we heard sounds in here."
"What sort of sounds?"
"Something crawling about!"
Bristol turned.
"Key is in the lock on the inside of the door," he said. "Is that where you found it?"
"Yes, sir!"
He looked across to where the brass knob of a safe gleamed dully.
"Safe locked?"
"Yes, sir."
Professor Deeping lay half under the table, a spectacle so ghastly that I shall not attempt to describe it.