II
“Better not go in just yet,” said Dymchurch as he and Tommy hurriedinto Haleham Street. “You’ve got the key all right?”
Tommy nodded.
“Then what about a bite of dinner? It’s early, but there’s a little placehere right opposite. We’ll get a table by the window, so that we can watchthe place all the time.”
They had a very welcome little meal, in the manner the detective hadsuggested. Tommy found Inspector¹ Dymchurch quite an entertaining com-panion. Most of his official work had lain amongst international spies, andhe had tales to tell which astonished his simple listener.
They remained in the little restaurant until eight o’clock, whenDymchurch suggested a move.
“It’s quite dark now, sir,” he explained. “We shall be able to slip inwithout any one being the wiser.”
It was, as he said, quite dark. They crossed the road, looked quickly upand down the deserted² street, and slipped inside the entrance. Then theymounted the stairs, and Tommy inserted his key in the lock of the outer of-fice.
Just as he did so, he heard, as he thought, Dymchurch whistle besidehim.
“What are you whistling for?” he asked sharply.
“I didn’t whistle,” said Dymchurch, very much astonished. “I thoughtyou did.”
“Well, some one—” began Tommy.
He got no further. Strong arms seized him from behind, and before hecould cry out, a pad of something sweet and sickly was pressed over hismouth and nose.
He struggled valiantly³, but in vain. The chloroform did its work. Hishead began to whirl and the floor heaved up and down in front of him.
Choking, he lost consciousness. .?.?.
He came to himself painfully, but in full possession of his faculties⁴. Thechloroform had been only a whiff. They had kept him under long enoughto force a gag into his mouth and ensure that he did not cry out.
When he came to himself, he was half- lying, half- sitting, proppedagainst the wall in a corner of his own inner office. Two men were busilyturning out the contents of the desk and ransacking⁵ the cupboards, and asthey worked they cursed freely.

分享到：