“I had much difficulty in getting away tonight. These things do not always arrange themselves fortunately. I am not, like No. 4 here, my own master.”

Bundle tried to guess at his nationality. Until he spoke, she had thought he might be French, but the accent was not a French one. He might possibly, she thought, be an Austrian, or a Hungarian, or even a Russian.

The American moved to the other side of the table, and Bundle heard a chair being pulled out.

“One o’clock’s being a great success,” he said. “I congratulate you on taking the risk.”

Five o’clock shrugged his shoulders.

“Unless one takes risks⁠—” He left the sentence unfinished.

Again seven taps sounded and Mosgorovsky moved across to the secret door.