“Miss Trevert had a letter to him. Something in the Secret Service, isn’t he?”
Mr. Manderton snorted.
“‘Something in the Secret Service,’” he repeated disdainfully. “Well, I should say he was. If you want to know, Mr. Greve, he’s the head!”
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FIGURE IN THE DOORWAY
The rain was coming down in torrents and the night was black as pitch when, leaving the lights of Rotterdam behind, the car swung out on to the main road leading to the Villa Bergendal. Thanks to a powerful headlight, Robin was able to get a good turn of speed out of her as soon as they were clear of the city. As they slowed down at the gate in the side road Herr Schulz tapped him on the shoulder.
“Better leave the car here and put the lights out,” he counselled. “And Miss Trevert should stay if the doctor here would remain to look after her ...”
“You think there’ll be a scrap?” whispered the doctor.
“With a man like Marbran,” returned the Chief, “you never know what may happen ...”
“Zere will be no faight,” commented the Dutch police officer in lugubrious accents, “my vriends, ve are too laite ...”
But the Chief insisted that Mary should stay behind and the doctor agreed to act as her escort. Then in single file the party proceeded up the drive, Robin in front, then the Dutchman, after him the Chief, and Mr. Manderton in the rear.