"This is my name," he said. "Do you mind going straight back and ringing up the Southend Police Station? Say that you're speaking for me, and ask them to send out a motor ambulance and a car as soon as possible. They'll know the powder works, and when they arrive perhaps you'll be good enough to bring them on here." "Why, certainly," was the answer. "In the meanwhile, if there's anything you want that I can let you have----" "Well, I don't know if you could run to a whisky and soda," suggested Marsden hopefully. "I could do with a drink after what we've been through the last quarter of an hour." "I'll send one of the men along with it," responded the other, and without waiting to be thanked he nodded a hasty farewell, and set off at once in the direction of the roadway. Marsden turned to Colin. "You can get back to 'The Firs' and pick up Miss Seymour if you like. There's no point in your remaining here, unless you want to stop until the whisky comes." "Oh, hang the whisky!" said Colin. "It's you I'm thinking of. I can't leave you stranded in a ditch with a couple of corpses." "You needn't worry about that," returned Marsden cheerfully. "I've been in worse company, and, in any case, the Southend police will be turning up in round about half an hour. No, you go along, doctor, and take Miss Seymour home in the car." "What about the sergeant and Joe?" inquired Colin. "They can wait for us. We shall be passing the house on our way back, and if Bentley's still unconscious there'll be room for him in the ambulance." "Well, it seems rather a shame to desert you," said Colin. "All the same, if you really don't mind I think I will push off. Nancy must be pretty well tired out, and the sooner I can get her back to Shadwell the better." "She'll be all right," said Marsden encouragingly. "If you think she needs a little tonic give her my congratulations and tell her that she's worth a couple of hundred thousand pounds." He held out his hand. "You shall hear from me later in the evening. I'll either 'phone you up or come down to Shadwell myself." "Come if you possibly can," said Colin. "Nancy will be longing to thank you for everything you've done, and if you want any further inducement Mark's got some topping good champagne." * * * * * * * * * The light was still streaming out through the shattered window as, leaving his car at the gate of "The Firs," Colin once more made his way up the drive and strode eagerly across the lawn. On reaching the verandah he found that the broken hasp had been fastened roughly together inside by a piece of wire, and while he was endeavouring to disentangle the latter the figure of Joe appeared suddenly in the doorway. At the sight of Colin he hastened forward with a shout of welcome. "'Alf a moment, guv'nor. 'Ere, let me get at it. You'll cut your 'and on that glass if you ain't careful."