It rang again and again, sounding unusually loud in the quietness of the empty flat.
Who could be coming to the front door at this hour?
And only one answer came to the question - an answer instinctive and persistent.
Danger - danger - danger.
Led by some instinct for which he did not account, Dermot switched off his light, slipped on an overcoat that lay across a chair, and opened the hall door.
Two men stood outside.
Beyond them Dermot caught sight of a blue uniform.
A policeman!"Mr West?" asked one of the two men.
It seemed to Dermot that ages elapsed before he answered.
In reality it was only a few seconds before he replied in a very fair imitation of his servant's expressionless voice:"Mr West hasn't come in yet."
"Hasn't come in yet, eh?
Very well, then, I think we'd better come in and wait for him."
"No, you don't."
"See here, my man, I'm inspector Verall of Scotland Yard, and I've got a warrant for the arrest of your master.
You can see it if you like."Dermot perused the proffered paper, or pretended to do so, asking in a dazed voice:"What for?
What's he done?"
"Murder.
Sir Alington West of Harley Street"His brain in a whirl, Dermot fell back before his redoubtable visitors.
He went into the sitting-room and switched on the light.
The inspector followed him."Have a search round," he directed the other man.
Then he turned to Dermot."You stay here, my man.
No slipping off to warn your master.
What's your name, by the way?"
"Milson, sir."
"What time do you expect your master in, Milson?"
"I don't know, sir, he was going to a dance, I believe. At the Grafton Galleries."
"He left there just under an hour ago.
Sure he's not been back here?"
"I don't think so, sir.
I fancy I should have heard him come in."At this moment the second man came in from the adjoining room.
In his hand he carried the revolver. He took it across to the inspector in some excitement.
An expression of satisfaction flitted across the latter's face."That settles it," he remarked. "Must have slipped in and out without your hearing him.
He's hooked it by now.
I'd better be off. Cawley, you stay here, in case he should come back again, and you can keep an eye on this fellow.
He may know more about his master than he pretends."The inspector bustled off.
Dermot endeavored to get the details of the affair from Cawley, who was quite ready to be talkative."Pretty clear case," he vouchsafed. "The murder was discovered almost immediately.
Johnson, the manservant, had only just gone up to bed when he fancied he heard a shot, and came down again. Found Sir Alington dead, shot through the heart.
He rang us up at once and we came along and heard his story."
"Which made it a pretty clear case?" ventured Dermot."Absolutely.
This young West came in with his uncle and they were quarrelling when Johnson brought in the drinks.
The old boy was threatening to make a new will, and your master was talking about shooting him.
Not five minutes later the shot was heard.
Oh, yes, clear enough."Clear enough indeed.
Dermot's heart sank as he realized the overwhelming evidence against him.
And no way out save flight.
He set his wits to work.
Presently he suggested making a cup of tea. Cawley assented readily enough.
He had already searched the flat and knew there was no back entrance.
Dermot was permitted to depart to the kitchen.
Once there he put the kettle on, and chinked cups and saucers industriously.