It was as Vernon said. They had raced in a straight line down to the grocer's shop at the corner and had not left Petterby Road until they went to the telegraph office. On recovering the bearings of the first shop they carefully felt their way up the road, reading on every gate the designation of each house. In this way, and after some ten or twelve minutes had elapsed, they managed to strike Siddons Villa and again found themselves at the front door. It was closed, as also was the window. "I hope Gail has not run away also," said Vernon ringing the bell. "Do you suspect he has anything to do with the business?" "Who knows? On the face of it he looks innocent, and Maunders certainly swore that the old man was ignorant. But Maunders is a liar and----" Here the door was cautiously opened, and the white face of Professor Gail became visible. "Who is there?" he asked in a trembling voice. "Mr. Vernon and Colonel Towton," said the latter gentleman; "we have returned to get our hats and to explain." "You won't fire any more pistols? My wife is almost fainting, and I don't like this sort of business. What does it----" "Open the door, open the door!" cried the Colonel testily; "you shall have a full explanation." Mr. Gail still seemed reluctant, as he apparently took them for robbers and dangerous rogues, so Vernon, losing patience, forced the door back and the old actor along with it. They faced the Professor in the hall and saw that he was holding an old-fashioned blunderbuss--probably a stage property used in "The Miller and His Men" and other out-of-date plays. In the distance, and sheltering herself behind her husband, was Mrs. Gail grasping a poker in her trembling hand. The pair seemed to be thoroughly frightened, and, considering the circumstances, it was small wonder that they were. "I have sent Maria for a policeman," quavered Mrs. Gail, "and both my husband and myself are armed." "I hope Maria won't lose herself in the fog," said Vernon good-humouredly, and in spite of his vexation at the escape of The Spider and his jackal. "In heaven's name, what does it mean?" demanded the Professor somewhat recovering his dignity. "Come into the drawing-room and we will explain," said Towton with some impatience, for he had small leniency for cowardice; "There's nothing to be afraid of. Mr. Vernon and I are honest men: you have got rid of the villains." "The villains?" shrieked Mrs. Gail, trembling violently and dropping the poker. "Maunders and Hest," said Vernon carelessly; "come in." He preceded his friend and the Gails into the drawing-room, quite certain, from the way in which they had behaved, that they knew nothing of the wicked doings of Hest and Maunders. When the door was closed and everyone was seated Vernon proceeded to examine the actor and actress. The situation, as Professor Gail said afterwards, was highly dramatic.