As they approached a big, powerfully built man, heavily bearded and wearing round horn spectacles, met them on the steps of the front door.
Renstoke bowed courteously. “Mr Erckmann?” he inquired.
“Yes, I am Mr Erckmann,” was the reply. “What can I do for you?”
Renstoke as briefly as possible explained what had happened. Erckmann listened patiently and carefully. Only at the end of the story, when Renstoke told him quite frankly his suspicions, the man’s eyes hardened ominously and his lips tightened under his heavy grey moustache.
“Yes, I have a gorilla,” he admitted. “But if you suggest that it has escaped you are quite wrong. It has never left its cage since it was brought here, quite young, six years ago. It would be a bad thing for some one if it did,” he added.
“May we see it?” asked Renstoke quietly.
“Yes—if you doubt my word,” snapped the scientist. He was evidently, for some reason, much annoyed and was controlling himself with obvious difficulty.
During the conversation Dick had once or twice glanced at Yvette and was surprised at the fixity of the gaze she directed at Erckmann. She was regarding him almost as if fascinated, with every sign of horror and apprehension.
Without further words Erckmann led the way through a small paddock to a row of cages, heavily barred with iron, which stood at the rear of the house. Before one of the strongest he halted.
“There you are,” he said grimly.