"That was thoughtful of you, Pongo," said Ronny. "Now, tell me." He turned to Bill. "If a whacking great bell started ringing within a few inches of your ear at half-past six in the morning, what would you say about it?" "Oh! Lord," said Bill. "I should say--" He came to a stop. "Of course you would," said Ronny. "So should I. So would anyone. What they call the natural man would emerge. Well, it didn't. So I say that Pongo is right--as usual--and that Gerry has got an obscure disease of the ear-drums." "It's now twenty past twelve," said one of the other girls sadly. "I say," said Jimmy slowly, "that's a bit beyond anything, isn't it? I mean a joke's a joke. But this is carrying it a bit far. It's a shade hard on the Cootes." Bill stared at him. "What are you getting at?" "Well," said Jimmy, "somehow or other--it's not like old Gerry." He found it hard to put into words just what he meant to say. He didn't want to say too much, and yet--He saw Ronny looking at him. Ronny was suddenly alert. It was at that moment Tredwell came into the room and looked round him hesitatingly. "I thought Mr. Bateman was here," he explained apologetically. "Just gone out this minute through the window," said Ronny. "Can I do anything?" Tredwell's eyes wandered from him to Jimmy Thesiger and then back again. As though singled out, the two young men left the room with him. Tredwell closed the dining-room door carefully behind him. "Well," said Ronny. "What's up?" "Mr. Wade not having yet come down, sir, I took the liberty of sending Williams up to his room." "Yes." "Williams has just come running down in a great state of agitation, sir." Tredwell paused--a pause of preparation. "I am afraid, sir, the poor young gentleman must have died in his sleep." Jimmy and Ronny stared at him. "Nonsense," cried Ronny at last. "It's--it's impossible. Gerry--" His face worked suddenly. "I'll--I'll run up and see. That fool Williams may have made a mistake." Tredwell stretched out a detaining hand. With a queer, unnatural feeling of detachment, Jimmy realized that the butler had the whole situation in hand. "No, sir, Williams has made no mistake. I have already sent for Dr. Cartwright, and in the meantime I have taken the liberty of locking the door, preparatory to informing Sir Oswald of what has occurred. I must now find Mr. Bateman." Tredwell hurried away. Ronny stood like a man dazed. "Gerry," he muttered to himself. Jimmy took his friend by the arm and steered him out through a side door on to a secluded portion of the terrace. He pushed him down on to a seat. "Take it easy, old son," he said kindly. "You'll get your wind in a minute." But he looked at him rather curiously. He had had no idea that Ronny was such a friend of Gerry Wade's. "Poor old Gerry," he said thoughtfully. "If ever a man looked fit, he did." Ronny nodded.