and so force his enemies to a frontal
attack.

The three men entered a narrow, absolutely bare hallway, from which an
uncarpeted staircase rose sharply to the left. From the first glance
around, and even more from the dank and mouldy atmosphere, Lessing
divined that the house had long been unoccupied, and that a deed of
violence committed therein might remain undiscovered for an indefinite
period. The conclusion did not help to raise his spirits as he
entered a long narrow room facing the back of the house, his
companions meantime pressing hard on his wake.

The room was as empty as the hall; the man in the brown coat walked
quickly to the nearer of the two windows, gave a searching glance
around, then turned to the chauffeur with a significant shake of the
head. There followed a moment's pause, as though both men were
puzzled by the absence of someone confidently expected. Then the man
with the brown coat turned once more to Lessing.

"I must ask you to wait for us here for a few minutes," he said
courteously. "We will not keep you longer than is necessary. I am
sorry that I cannot offer you a chair. This house is, as you see,
unfurnished."

Lessing did not condescend to reply. He hailed the departure of the
two men as giving him an opportunity to examine his surroundings and
find a possible way of escape. The room was on the ground floor, the
windows were unbarred, surely then it would be easy.

The next moment the blood rushed to his face, as his ears caught the
turn of a rusty key, followed by the drawing of a bolt, and hurrying
across the floor he found that the door leading into the passage had
been doubly secured. The two men were determined to keep him a
prisoner while they waited for the appearance of one who was evidently
their chief; he could hear their footsteps ascending the stairs,
tramping over the bare floors above; once and again the sound of the
long thrice-repeated whistle came to his ears, but to his relief there
came no answer to the signal.

Lessing stood with his ears to the chink of the door listening
intently. Presently he heard the two men descend to the hall, linger
for a minute as if undecided, then pass out of the front door.
Another minute and a new sound broke the stillness; he listened
acutely, and had little difficulty in divining its meaning; the men
were endeavouring to move the car out of the