He went in through the massive front door, and in the hall he came face to face with two men waiting there. At first he couldn’t see who they were, and he stepped back hurriedly. Then he saw it was Simmy and Jake.

“What are you doing here?” shouted Markhoff. “Weren’t you told to keep watch on Kirrin Cottage and make sure the police weren’t told anything?”

“Yes,” said Jake, sulkily. “And we’ve come to say that that cook — woman called Joan — went down to the police this morning. She had one of the kids with her — a girl. The boys don’t seem to be about.”

“No. They’re here — at least, they were,” said Markhoff. “They’ve disappeared again. As for the police, we’ve heard they’re on the way, and we’ve made our plans. You’re a bit late with your news! Lot of good you are, with your spying! Clear off now — we’re taking the girl off in the helicopter before the police come. How did anyone know where the girl was? Have you been spilling the beans?”

“Pah!” said Simmy, contemptuously. “Think we want to be messed up with the police? You must be mad. We want some money. We’ve done all your dirty work, and you’ve only paid us half you promised. Give us the rest.”

“You can ask Red for it!” growled Markhoff. “What’s the good of asking me? Go and ask him!”

“Right. We will,” said Jake, his face as black as thunder. “We’ve done all he told us — took the papers for him, took the girl — and that savage brute of a dog too — see where he bit me on my hand? And all we get is half our money! I reckon we’ve only just come in time, too. Planning to go off in that there heli-thing and do us out of our pay. Pah!”

“Where’s Red?” demanded Simmy.

“Upstairs,” said Markhoff. “I’ve got some bad news for him, so he won’t be pleased to see you and your ugly mugs. Better let me find him for you and say what I’ve got to say — then you can chip in with your polite little speeches.”

“Funny, aren’t you?” said Jake, in a dangerous voice. Neither he nor Simmy liked Markhoff. They followed him up the broad stairway, and then up again till they came to the room that lay below the spiral staircase.

Red was there, scanning through the papers that had been stolen from the study of George’s father. He was in a black temper. He flung down the papers as Markhoff came in.

“These aren’t the notes I wanted!” he began, loudly. “Well, I’ll hold the girl till I get… why, Markhoff, what’s up? Anything wrong?”

“Plenty,” said Markhoff. “The dog’s gone — he wasn’t there when I went to shoot him — and the two boys have gone too — yes, escaped out of a locked shed. Beats me!”

“And here are two visitors for you — they want money! They’ve come to tell you what you already know — the police have been told about you.”