"That was the front-door bell." "No, it was only the hall clock," said Bernard.
"That's seven o'clock! Oh, where can he be ?" said Victoire, wringing her hands.

"The coup was fixed for midnight....

Where can he be ?" "They must be after him," said Charolais.

"And he daren't come home." Gingerly he drew back the curtain and resumed his watch.
"I've sent down the lift to the bottom, in case he should come back by the secret entrance," said Victoire; and she went to the opening into the well of the lift and stood looking down it, listening with all her ears.
"Then why, in the devil's name, have you left the doors open ?" cried Charolais irritably.

"How do you expect the lift to come up if the doors are open ?" "I must be off my head!" cried Victoire.
She stepped to the side of the lift and pressed a button.