Jerry opened the door and we went down three steps into the back yard. It was almost full daylight. There were ten of us in the party.

“This all?” I asked Thaler.

He nodded.

“Nick said there were fifty of you.”

“Fifty of us to stand off that crummy force!” he sneered.

A uniformed copper held the back gate open, muttering nervously:

“Hurry it up, boys, please.”

I was willing to hurry, but nobody else paid any attention to him.