"Tell him to stand by with fire-buckets, but not to leave the yard without orders from me," directed Gatton.
Martin issued these instructions in a voice which must have been audible at Leeways, and then stood scratching his head stupidly.
But indeed of all the bewildered company who gathered that night beneath the roof of the Abbey Inn, I think I was the most nonplused of all, and turning to Gatton:
"For God's sake tell me what it all means!" I said.
"It means," he answered, and even through his disguise I recognized the old grim smile, "that only a match stood between you and eternity! Even now, we cannot afford to sit down, but I am not anxious to pass your door for a few minutes. As we both have much to say, let us find a room where we can talk."
Accordingly we went up to a large empty room at the back of the inn. Through the open doorway I could hear the excited voices of the entire staff of the establishment, who had congregated in Martin's room across the landing. Never in the history of the Abbey Inn had such doings taken place.
"Perhaps," continued Gatton, "it will save time if you tell me exactly what you have done first."
"Very well," I said; "but before I begin—when did you arrive?"
"An hour and a half after receiving your code telegram! I came by car. The car is at Manton now."
"Why this disguise?"