pen. He must get away
from Antony and see. And if they were shut, hopelessly shut, then he
must have a moment to himself, a moment in which to think of some other
plan, and avoid the ruin which seemed so suddenly to be threatening.

So he had run. But Antony had kept up with him. They had broken in the
window together, and gone into the office. But Cayley was not done yet.
There was the dressing-room window! But quietly, quietly. Antony mustn't
hear.

And Antony didn't hear. Indeed, he had played up to Cayley splendidly.
Not only had he called attention to the open window, but he had
carefully explained to Cayley why Mark had chosen this particular window
in preference to the office window. And Cayley had agreed that probably
that was the reason. How he must have chuckled to himself! But he was
still a little afraid. Afraid that Antony would examine the shrubbery.
Why? Obviously because there was no trace of anyone having broken
through the shrubbery. No doubt Cayley had provided the necessary traces
since, and had helped the Inspector to find them. Had he even gone as
far as footmarks in Mark's shoes? But the ground was very hard. Perhaps
footmarks were not necessary. Antony smiled as he thought of the big
Cayley trying to squeeze into the dapper little Mark's shoes. Cayley
must have been glad that footmarks were not necessary.

No, the open window was enough; the open window and a broken twig or
two. But quietly, quietly. Antony mustn't hear. And Antony had not
heard.... But he had seen a shadow on the wall.

They were outside on the lawn again now, Bill and Antony, and Bill was
listening open-mouthed to his friend's theory of yesterday's happenings.
It fitted in, it explained things, but it did not get them any further.
It only gave them another mystery to solve.

"What's that?" said Antony.

"Mark. Where's Mark? If he never went into the office at all, then where
is he now?"

"I don't say that he never went into the office. In fact, he must have
gone. Elsie heard him." He stopped and repeated slowly, "She heard him,
at least she says she did. But if he was there, he came out again by the
door."

"Well, but where does that lead you?"

"Where it led Mark. The passage."

"Do you mean that he's been hiding there all the time?" Antony was
silent until Bill had repeated his question, and then with an effort he
came out of his thoughts and answered him.

"I don't know. But look here. Here is a possible explan