Part 34 (1/2)
They went into the house. Cayley was in the hall as they came in. He nodded, and took out his watch.
”Time to change?” he said.
”Just about,” said Bill.
”You didn't forget my letter?”
”I did not. In fact, we had tea there.”
”Ah!” He looked away and said carelessly, ”How were they all?”
”They sent all sorts of sympathetic messages to you, and-and all that sort of thing.”
”Oh, yes.”
Bill waited for him to say something more, and then, as nothing was coming, he turned round, said, ”Come on, Tony,” and led the way upstairs.
”Got all you want?” he said at the top of the stairs.
”I think so. Come and see me before you go down.”
”Righto.”
Antony shut his bedroom door behind him and walked over to the window. He pushed open a cas.e.m.e.nt and looked out. His bedroom was just over the door at the back of the house. The side wall of the office, which projected out into the lawn beyond the rest of the house, was on his left. He could step out on to the top of the door, and from there drop easily to the ground. Getting back would be little more difficult. There was a convenient water-pipe which would help.
He had just finished his dressing when Bill came in. ”Final instructions?” he asked, sitting down on the bed. ”By the way, how are we amusing ourselves after dinner? I mean immediately after dinner.”
”Billiards?”
”Righto. Anything you like.”
”Don't talk too loud,” said Antony in a lower voice. ”We're more or less over the hall, and Cayley may be there.” He led the way to the window. ”We'll go out this way to-night. Going downstairs is too risky. It's easy enough; better put on tennis-shoes.”
”Right. I say, in case I don't get another chance alone with you what do I do when Cayley comes to tuck me up?”
”It's difficult to say. Be as natural as you can. I mean, if he just knocks lightly and looks in, be asleep. Don't overdo the snoring. But if he makes a h.e.l.l of a noise, you'll have to wake up and rub your eyes, and wonder what on earth he's doing in your room at all. You know the sort of thing.”
”Right. And about the dummy figure. I'll make it up directly we come upstairs, and hide it under the bed.”
”Yes.... I think we'd better go completely to bed ourselves. We shan't take a moment dressing again, and it will give him time to get safely into the pa.s.sage. Then come into my room.”
”Right.... Are you ready?”
”Yes.”
They went downstairs together.
CHAPTER XVII. Mr. Beverley Takes the Water