But there must be some way, he argued irritably. If I could get at Pilton—. He went close to the locked door and listened. No sound. But I oughtn’t to mind locks any more, he reminded himself. It ought to be possible to ... No one was looking ... At least it was worth a try.

Deliberately he walked up against, into, and through the closed door, arriving on the other side with an expression of pleased surprise. But of course! How simple! And why not? It was all in learning how! Obviously the possibilities of a disembodied state were limitless and only needed to be explored.

There was a dim light over the lower staircase at the end of the hall, and Sabrina’s door midway was closed. He rested a thoughtful glance on it as he passed by, toward the stairs. No. Better not. Better try Pilton.

He went on along the passage and started down the stairs on the way to the kitchen via the lower hall and the dining-room. Inevitably as he reached the landing Aunt Effie came into view at the bottom, with Bella in attendance.

At first he thought he would try to slip past, but as Aunt Effie’s foot touched the bottom step Bella gave tongue hysterically. Caught only a few steps from the bottom, he flattened himself against the wainscoting and waited for the noise to subside.

“Bella, what is the matter with you? What makes you go off like that? Do be quiet, you’ll disturb Uncle Alan again! Come along, now, don’t be such a silly girl—”

Aunt Effie went up two or three more steps and paused to look back at the shrieking little dog, whose sharp muzzle was pointed unmistakably at the wainscoting just beside her. Helplessly Aunt Effie stared at the polished wood from ceiling to steps, while Hilary stood motionless and smiling directly in her line of vision. Experimentally then she put out her hand and touched the paneling behind him. And as she did so Aunt Effie felt a little queer, as though she had touched something—unaccustomed. She backed away from the wall and stood against the banister, looking first at the wall in front of her and then at Bella, stiff-legged and pointing on the carpet below.

With a sudden spasm of panic, Aunt Effie scurried down the steps, scooped up the distraught Bella from the hall floor, and ran into the drawing-room and closed the door hard. And then, a few moments later she opened it again very cautiously, and looked out.