"There's only one way to do it," he said, in a low voice. "We shall have to smash in the window and trust to luck." He turned to the sergeant. "We may nab the lot of them if we're quick enough, but we can't count on that, not when we've an old hand like Cooper to deal with. You'd better slip round to the yard again, Bentley, and keep a watch on the back door."
His assistant nodded. "Very good, sir. It won't take me more than a couple of minutes. I'll give you a whistle as soon as I'm ready."
He disappeared promptly and silently, and, stepping back to where Colin and Joe were hiding in the shadow, the Inspector stooped down beside them.
"I think the simplest plan will be for one of us to tackle the window," he said. "I'll do that, and you two get ready to rush in the moment it's open."
"Supposing we can't force it?" whispered Colin. "Some of these windows have a bar across on the inside."
"In that case we must break the glass and get in as best we can. If Cooper looks like making trouble, keep out of the way and leave him to me."
He produced a heavy Service revolver, and, having clicked open the breech, proceeded to examine it with some care.
With his hands clenched and his heart beating fiercely, Colin started out across the lawn, waiting for the signal. The feeling that ever since the morning Nancy had been a prisoner in one of those rooms, and at the mercy of such a scoundrel as Fenton, filled him with an apprehension that was almost unbearable. Even if they were in time to save her from the worst fate of all, heaven knew what hardships and misery she must have been through during the last eight hours. His nerves tingled with a savage longing to be face to face with the man who was responsible for her sufferings, and, crouching there in the darkness, he swore a bitter oath to himself that, whatever else happened, Fenton should not escape.
Suddenly, through the silence of the garden, a low whistle sounded clearly from the back of the house. Colin was on his feet instantly, but before he could take a step forward both he and Joe were checked by a quick movement from their companion.
"I'll go first, doctor," whispered the Inspector. "You two keep close behind, and follow me in directly I smash the lock."