"Come and lend me a hand, Inspector," he asked.
Feather, already beside him, bent to lift at the stone. Between them they got it up on end, and revealed the stain going down.
"But they couldn't have put the boards back," Feather objected.
"Not that. Now we're here—those iron bars. McCoul showed me more than he meant this morning, and I'm sure—come down with me."
He went to the fireplace and took up one of the bars. It was all he could carry down the stairs, he knew, and he beckoned to Tom Cotton.
"You bring the other, Tom," he bade. "Light us down, Inspector."
After only a moment's hesitation Feather moved and took up the lamp, which he had not extinguished. Gees switched on his torch and handed it to Rapkin before taking up the iron bar.
"You may need more light," he said. "The sta
