"Yes, who is speaking?"
"It is I, Adderley. For God's sake come round to my place at
once!"
His words were scarcely intelligible. Undoubtedly he was in the
grip of intense emotion.
"What do you mean? What is the matter?"
"It is here, Knox, it is here! It is knocking on the door!
Knocking! Knocking!"
"You have been drinking," I said sternly. "Where is your man?"
"The cur has bolted. He bolted the moment he heard that damned
knocking. I am all alone; I have no one else to appeal to."
There came a choking sound, then: "My God, Knox, it is getting
in! I can see. . . the shadow on the blind. . ."
Convinced that Adderley's secret fears had driven him mad, I
nevertheless felt called upon to attend to his urgent call, and
without a moment's delay I hurried around to St. James's Street.
The liftman was not on duty, the lower hall was in darkness, but
I raced up the stairs and found to my astonishment that
Adderley's door was wide open.
"Adderley!" I cried. "Adderley!"
There was no reply, and without further ceremony I entered and
searched the chambers. They were empty. Deeply mystified, I was
about to go out again when there came a ring at the door-bell. I
walked to the door and a policeman was standing upon the landing.
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