‘Must ’ave been waiting downstairs whilst we was up,’ whispered Gimlet. ‘You stay ’ere Guv and I’ll creep on up and see.’
‘No, Gimlet, thank you for the offer, but I must go myself.’ ‘Honest, Guv, ’tis better I go, just in case.’
‘This is precisely why I shall go. You have your truncheon?’ Gimlet nodded, unhappily. ‘Pass it to me. You stay here, but stay by the door, you can watch the foot of the staircase, should anyone come down, you can see and apprehend them.’
The door of the dining room creaked noisily, which it had not done before, as if to sound warning to whatever it might be above. Collingwood swiftly, but silently, slipped across the hallway and up the stairs, taking them three at time, aiming to surprise whom-ever was creeping about. One of the spare bedrooms was directly ove
