Who were they?
What did it mean?
Questions swept in swift sequence through his brain.

Had they seen him?
It would be very dark against the background of the portieres, but yet if they were watching--he drew a breath of relief.

He had not been seen.

Their voices reached him in low, guarded whispers.
"Say, youse, Ike, pipe it! Dere's a window open in the snitch's room.
Come on, we'll get in dere.

It'll make the hair stand up on the back of his neck fer a starter." "Aw, ferget it!" replied another voice.