"Hullo!" he exclaimed, pushing at it, "the door is locked. And the key appears to have been taken away," he added, bending down and feeling about in the imperfect light.
The whole party was consequently held up on the narrow stairs. "I'll go and ask what has become of the key," Morriston said, making his way past them.
In a minute he returned, presently followed by the butler.
"How is it that this top door is locked, Stent?" he asked. "And where is the key?"
"I don't know, sir. Alfred mentioned this morning that the door was locked and the key taken away; we thought you must have locked it, sir."
"I? No, I've not been up here since the morning of the ball, when I had those old things brought up from the lower room to be out of the way."
"Did you lock the door then, sir?"
"No. Why should I? I am certain I did not. Perhaps one of the men did.
Just go and inquire. And have the key looked for."
"Very good, sir."
"This is rather provoking," Morriston said, as they waited. "I particularly wanted to show you the view, which should be lovely on a clear day like this. If we have to wait much longer the light will be going. Besides, it is quite a quaint old room with a curious recess formed by the bartizan you may have noticed from outside."