Once she halted, thinking she heard a board creak somewhere, but then convinced that she was mistaken, she went on again. She was now in the main corridor, making her way to the west wing. She reached the angle of intersection and peered cautiously round—then she stared in blank surprise.
The watcher’s post was empty. Jimmy Thesiger was not there.
Bundle stared in complete amazement. What had happened? Why had Jimmy left his post? What did it mean?
And at that moment she heard a clock strike two.
She was still standing there, debating what to do next, when suddenly her heart gave a leap and then seemed to stand still.
The door handle of Terence O’Rourke’s room was slowly turning.
Bundle watched, fascinated. But the door did not open. Instead the knob returned slowly to its original position. What did it mean?
Suddenly Bundle came to a resolution.
Jimmy, for some unknown reason, had deserted his post. She must get hold of Bill.
Quickly and noiselessly, Bundle fled along the way she had come. She burst unceremoniously into Bill’s room.
“Bill, wake up! Oh, do wake up!”
It was an urgent whisper she sent forth, but there came no response to it.
“Bill,” breathed Bundle.
Impatiently she switched on the lights, and then stood dumbfounded.