“It sounds to me,” said Lord Manton, “as if Mr. Red--the man Red, I mean--and his friends were having a hurdle race in the attics.” “Go on,” said Miss Blow. “Let us pause for a moment,” said Lord Manton, “and consider the situation before we rush headlong into some unknown danger. I am inclined to think that several men are jumping hurdles, and from the occasional violence of the bumps I should say that one of them is a heavy man, much heavier than the others. Can you infer anything else from the noise we hear, Miss Blow? Or you, Goddard? Very well, if neither of you can, we may as well go on, bearing in mind that there are several men and that one of them is large.” They climbed two more flights of stairs and reached the top story of the house. The noise sounded very loud. Guided by it they reached the door of a room at the end of the passage. Mr. Goddard knocked. There was no reply, but this did not surprise him, for the noise inside was so great as to drown the knock. “Go in,” said Miss Blow. Mr. Goddard turned the handle. “The door is locked,” he said. “The key is on the outside,” said Miss Blow. “Turn it.” “As landlord of the house,” said Lord Manton, “allow me.” He turned the key and flung open the door. Inside were Dr. O’Grady, Mr. Dick, Patsy Devlin, Sergeant Farrelly and Constable Cole. They were playing leapfrog. Mr. Sanders sat on a bed in the corner and watched them. Dr. O’Grady, executing a splendid bound over Sergeant Farrelly’s broad back, landed on his feet opposite the door just as it opened. “Adeline Maud,” he said, “I’m delighted to see you. Have you been here long? I hope you weren’t kept waiting at the door.” CHAPTER XXVI “Dear me!” said Lord Manton; “all our lost sheep found again. One, two, three, four, five, six. Yes, the whole six of you.” “You’re not dead,” said Miss Blow, clutching at Dr. O’Grady’s arm; “you’re not dead then, after all.” “My wife,” said Mr. Dick, “my poor wife. Can any of you tell me----” “Sergeant Farrelly,” said Mr. Goddard. “Will you kindly explain how it is that I find you here playing leapfrog with----” “I thought it was a hurdle race,” said Lord Manton. “It sounded exactly like a hurdle race.” Sergeant Farrelly drew himself up to attention. “In obedience to your orders, sir,” he said, “Constable Cole and I proceeded to Rosivera on our bicycles, leaving Clonmore at a few minutes after twelve o’clock. Acting on instructions received, we rode as slowly as possible----” “You can leave out that part,” said Mr. Goddard, with a glance at Miss Blow, “and go on.” “We have been kidnapped and imprisoned here,” said Mr. Sanders; “and I demand that the police shall instantly pursue----” “Lucius,” said Miss Blow, “have you been imprisoned?” “Certainly not,” said Dr. O’Grady; “we’ve been the guests of Mr. Red; haven’t we, Patsy?” “We have, be damn!” said Patsy Devlin. “What was there to hinder us going off any time we wanted?” “I don’t understand,” said Miss Blow.