He moved about the house taking for the moment a superficial if methodical survey. But as he entered room after room to find each in applepie order, with nothing that could in any manner be construed to fit with his theory that the house was a depot for stolen goods, he puffed more fiercely at his cigarette and his eyebrows drew more closely together. "If Larry's had the stuff here he's made a clean sweep or he's hidden it pretty tight," he muttered. "But he can't have got away with it. It isn't possible." Something that Penelope Noelson had said recurred to him, and he made his way back to the panelled room that he judged to have been Larry's study. Taking a pencil from his pocket he proceeded to tap methodically inch by inch upon the walls. A quarter of an hour passed in this manner and he was stooping to make a fresh start from the bottom of the wall when he became aware of some slight sound behind him. He gave no sign that he had heard and continued the tap tap of his pencil as nonchalantly as ever, considering with strained calculation what his next move should be. The even voice of Larry Hughes broke on his ear. "No use trying to deceive the astute Mr. Labar. You've guessed right. There is a secret panel in this room. But as you see you started at the wrong end. And rather than wait the arrival of your friends we have decided to show you everything ourselves. Keep very still, please. My friend Mr. Bungey is a hasty man. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to you." Still stooping the detective permitted his gaze to swing slowly round. Before an open panel in the woodwork stood Larry Hughes and Billy Bungey each with a levelled pistol in his hand. CHAPTER XXV Harry Labar had been in many tight corners in his life, but now he knew himself in the tightest of them all. He had fallen into an ambush. He was certain that at the first false move he made neither of the men who confronted him would hesitate to shoot him down. They were in a situation where nothing--not even murder--could make matters much worse for them. Unless they escaped the net that was closing round them they knew as well as he did that practically the remainder of their lives would be spent in prison. He smiled sweetly upon the two. "Do you mind if I raise myself a little?" he asked. "This attitude is somewhat cramping." "First of all I think that you had better drop your gun on the floor," said Larry. "That's a sensible man," as Labar dragged out his weapon and tossed it on the carpet. "Now you may stand up while Billy attends to you. But," he made a menacing gesture with his own pistol--"don't do anything foolish." It was far from Labar's intention to do anything foolish. He knew in what jeopardy he stood. So he remained perfectly still while Billy Bungey skilfully lashed his arms to his side, and as he finished surveyed the trussed detective with some satisfaction.