Still holding the receiver to his ear, he conversed rapidly, by means of taps, with his confederates at the other end. From where we stood, close by, the taps at the other end were faintly audible. For nearly five minutes this conversation by code continued. Then the man hung up the receiver and faced us.
"I done it," he said. "Now me and my pal can get away from here at onceand both of you," indicating Albeury and Osborne. "We shall meet our pals who've watched this housewe shall meet them in Tottenham Court Road in half an hour. I've told them we've done out Mr. Berrington and his man. They think you both dead. It's a deal, then?"
"What's 'a deal'?" I asked.
"That you and your man stick in here until after the gang has been taken."
"Yes, that's understood."
"And that you won't answer any bell, or knock, nor any telephone, nor show any sign of life till after they've been took?"
"Of course. That's all arranged."
"Then we'll go, andand good luck to you."
A few moments later we heard them going down the stairs. At once Albeury called Osborne and myself into the room we had just left. Then he rang for Simon.
Everything was quickly settled. Albeury was to go at once to Scotland Yard and make arrangements for the arrest of the gang at Eldon Hall on the following day but one; the arrival of the large body of detectives that would be needed would have, as he explained, to be planned with the greatest secrecy. After that he would catch the night express to the north, and, on the following morning, himself call at Eldon Hall to see Lord Cranmere. He would not alarm him in the least, he said. He would tell him merely that there were suspicions of a proposed attempted robbery, and ask leave to station detectives.