McGrath nodded.
"Yes, while you were talking in here," he said, "we showed our shields and they showed us through." He drew near and whispered: "We thought it best to take 'em by surprise; they hadn't no time to fix things, don't you see?"
"Nothing found?" asked Murgatroyd.
Simultaneously they shook their heads, and answered:—
"Nothing."
Murgatroyd waved his hand and commanded them to wait for him at the door, ending with:—
"I won't be a minute." And turning to Mrs. Challoner, he said a trifle apologetically: "My men tell me that your husband is not in the house. One thing more, however; if you know where Mr. Challoner is—"
"She doesn't!" snapped Shirley.
"If you know where he is," Murgatroyd repeated, ignoring the interruption, "if you have any means of communicating with him——"
"She hasn't!" once more interposed the girl sharply.