“It’s safer,” said Bundle. “I don’t know what Jimmy and Bill are up to, but we don’t want Alfred coming back in the middle of it and wrecking everything. Hallo, here they are. Well, they haven’t wasted much time. Probably watching round the corner to see Alfred leave. Go down and open the door to them, Loraine.”

Loraine obeyed. Jimmy Thesiger alighted from the driving seat.

“You stop there for a moment, Bill,” he said. “Blow the horn if you think anyone’s watching the place.”

He ran up the steps and banged the door behind him. He looked pink and elated.

“Hallo, Bundle, there you are. Now then, we’ve got to get down to it. Where’s the key of the room you got into last time?”

“It was one of the downstairs keys. We’d better bring the lot up.”

“Right you are, but be quick. Time’s short.”