Quackenbush and two other detectives were in the room. Bissell was stretched upon the bed, to all appearance dangerously wounded.
Chamberlain was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Chamberlain?" asked Old Spicer, eagerly.
"Got away," answered Quackenbush.
"Got away! In the name of the great Lecoq, how did he manage it?"
"Knocked me down, threw a hall-porter on top of me, and was gone before I could get the fool off."
"But these men, what were they doing?"
"Lord! I don't know."
"I was at the head of the stairs yonder. We were attracting too much attention standing here together," explained Crowley.
"And I," said the third detective, "was at the back stairs."