"How was it your men arrived like that? Did they hear Mrs Ferenci's screams?"
"It was the messenger boy. When he left here, a man came out of the darkness and struck at him with a club. The boy was too quick for him and bolted. The man went after him, but the boy got away. The attack was so quick, the boy didn't get much of a chance to see the man. All he can tell us is that he is tall and slimly built. As soon as the boy got clear, he dialled 999. One of our cars picked him up and brought him here. They arrived just too late." Don rubbed his forehead.
"Have you got anything from Dixon? Did he see anything?" Horrocks shook his head.
"I'm going to talk to him now. He's still groggy from the punch you gave him."
Don moved irritably.
"It was entirely my fault," he said angrily. "I told him I would call out when I returned. Naturally he went for me: he was like a wild cat."
A constable came in.
"Beg pardon, sir. There's a lady asking for Mr Micklem." "That'll be my secretary. I asked one of your men to telephone her. I want her to take care of Mrs Ferenci," Don said, getting to his feet.
"All right, sir. While you talk to her, I'll see how Dixon is getting on," Horrocks said.
Don found Marian in the hall.
"This is a frightful business," he said, going to her. "Poor Guido's been murdered. Julia's in a bad way. The maid's with her now, but
I don't think she's much use. Will you take charge, Marian? If she's as bad as I think she is, you'd better get the doctor.
The maid will tell you whom to get. I'll leave you to handle it."
"Yes, of course," Marian said. "Where is she?"
No questions; no flap. Don never ceased to wonder at Marian's unruffled calm. No situation ever seemed, to throw her out of her stride. He knew he couldn't leave Julia in better hands.
"The door facing the head of the stairs."
Marian nodded and ran up the stairs while Don went into the library where Dixon was lying on the settee with Horrocks standing over him.
"I'm sorry about this, Dixon," Don said, going over to him. "It was entirely my fault. You put up a good show."
"Oh no, sir, I didn't," Dixon said, sitting up. "I got proper wind up. I should have known it was you. The fight going out.."
"Well, never mind," Don said. He looked at Horrocks. "Go ahead, Inspector. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Will you tell me what happened from the time Mr Micklem left the room?" Horrocks asked, sitting by Dixon.
"Well, sir, I stood guard by the door. Mr Ferenci sat on the settee with Mrs Ferenci. All of a sudden the lights went out.
I heard Mr Ferenci jump to his feet. He said something about the window being open. Mrs Ferenci began to scream. I heard Mr Ferenci pull back the curtains. It was raining outside and dark, and I couldn't see a thing. I just stood like a fool staring into the darkness. Then the door burst open. Mr Micklem had told me he would call out when he came in. I did remember that. I thought he was an intruder and I went for him. Then I ran into a punch that knocked me out."
"So you didn't see what happened to Mr Ferenci?" Horrocks asked, an exasperated note in his voice.
"No, sir, I didn't."
Don lifted his shoulders. They were getting nowhere, he told himself He thought again of Harry.
"Has the telephone been fixed yet?" he asked.
"Not yet," HoiTocks said. "We can't find where the line has been cut."
"Then I'll get back to my place. If my chauffeur has had any luck he'll be trying to contact me. If I hear anything I'll let you know."
"I'd be glad if you would, sir."
Nodding to Dixon, Don went into the hall and up the stairs. He knocked on Julia's door. Marian came to the door.
"The doctor's coming," she told Don. "She's still unconscious."
"Stick with her , will you? I'm going home. There's a chance Harry spotted the killer and he may be trying to get me."
"I'll stay with her."
Leaving her, Don hurried to where he had left the Bentley and drove fast to Upper Brook Mews. As he pulled up the front door opened and Cherry appeared. Don leaned out of the car window.
"Any news from Harry?" he asked as Cherry came majestically towards him.
"He telephoned about half an hour ago, sir," Cherry said, coming to rest by the side of the car. "He wishes you to go to Athens Street which he tells me is the second turning on the left off Old Compton Street. He said the matter was urgent."
"Thanks," Don said and making a U-turn he sent the Bentley shooting down the dark, deserted mews.
Athens Street turned out to be a narrow cul-de-sac , dimly lit by one street lamp.
Keeping in the shadows, Don walked quickly down the wet pavement until he was within a few yards of the high brick wall that cut the cul-de-sac off from Dean Street.
He spotted Harry standing in the dark shadows of an archway and he moved into the darkness and joined him.
"Phew! I'm glad to see you, sir," Harry said feelingly. "I've been trying to get you for the past hour. I kept popping over to the phone box, but I couldn't get Mr Ferenci's number."
"What's going on here?" Don asked.
"I spotted a bloke coming from Mr Ferenci's house and I followed him. He's holed up in that house across the way."
Don moved to the entrance of the archway.
"Which house?"
"The one by the wall, sir."
Don studied the three-storeyed building. It was in darkness. He could see there were two windows to each floor and the front door was set back in an archway similar to the one in which he was sheltering.
"Any other way out, Harry?"
"No, sir. I checked that."
"So he's still in there?"
"He's in there all right. About five minutes ago a woman came along and went in. She was wearing a white mackintosh and slacks. It was too dark to see what she looked like."
"What's he like, Harry?"
"Tall and thin, dark, hooked nose, flashily dressed."
The District Messenger had said his attacker had been tall and thin. This sounded like the man all right.
"When did you first spot him, Harry?"
"About a quarter of an hour after the messenger boy had left the house. He came from the back of the house, crossed the garden, vaulted over the wall and bolted down the street to an old Buick that was parked under the trees. I went after him and managed to get in the boot. He drove fast, and it wasn't much of a joy ride for me. He parked the car in a bomb site in Old Compton Street and came here. I had a lot of trouble following him. He seemed jumpy, and kept checking to see if anyone was following him, but he didn't spot me. I'm sure of that. He let himself into the house with a key, and that's the last I've seen of him. The woman knocked when she arrived and he let her in."
"Good show, Harry. I'm going over there to have a look around.
You stay here and keep your eyes open. If I run into trouble, you know what to do. This fellow's dangerous. He killed Ferenci, so don't be fussy the way you handle him if you have to handle him."
"You mean Mr Ferenci's dead?" Harry asked, shocked.
"Yes. I'll tell you about it later. Just keep your ears and eyes open."
"Wouldn't it be better if I went instead of you, sir?" Harry said, trying to sound casual. "No point in dirtying up your suit climbing in and out of windows."
"Do what you're told," Don said curtly. "Watch out. If he makes a bolt for it, stop him."
"Right-ho, sir," Harry said. "The easiest way in is through that window by the wall. The door's got a bolt on it. I've tried it. I'll give you a leg up. Get up on the roof and it'll be a piece of cake2 to get in through the window."
They moved over to the wall. Harry locked his fingers and Micklem put his foot in the cradle thus formed. With a slight heave, he was within reach of the top of the wall. He caught hold of it, and another heave from Harry swung him onto the wall.
Harry waved to him and went back to the shelter of the archway.
Crouching, Don walked up the sloping roof. Just above him was an unlighted window. He peered through the glass into the darkness beyond and could just make out a dim, empty room. The window catch was back. He took out his pocket knife and gently levered up the window. Then he swung himself into the room, lowered the window and crossed to the door.