"Who's down there?" demanded a voice. "Is it you, Payne?"
"No, Mr. Jerrold," answered Harris, "it's a police officer. I've come to see you on important business."
"Have you found the Hawk?" cried Jerrold; "did you get back the plans those rascals stole from me?"
"Come down and let us in," said the officer. "We want to talk with you."
"Wait a minute."
The head was withdrawn and the window dropped. A little while later, the front door opened and Jerrold showed himself, carrying a candle. Carl recognized him as one of the two men who had been pursuing the Hawk in the buggy.
"Don'd you know me, Misder Jerrold?" asked Carl.
The inventor stared at him and shook his head. Thereupon Carl explained where and when they had met. Jerrold's brows wrinkled in a frown.
Leading his callers into a small sitting room he asked them to sit down.
"What do you know about this fellow Brady, Jerrold?" asked Harris, by way of getting at the business in hand.