Quest moved to the bars.  It was Laura who stood there.  She wasted very little time in preliminaries.  Having satisfied herself that the guard was out of hearing, she leaned as close as she could to Quest.

“Look here,” she said, “Lenora’s crazy with the idea that Craig has done these jobs—­Craig, the Professor’s servant, you know.  We used the phototelesme yesterday afternoon and saw him burn something in the Professor’s study.  Lenora went up straight away and got hold of the ashes.”

“Smart girl,” Quest murmured, nodding approvingly.  “Well?”

“There are distinct fragments,” Laura continued, “of embroidered stuff such as the Salvation Army girl might have been wearing.  We put them on one side, but they aren’t enough evidence.  Lenora’s idea is that you should try and get hold of Craig and hypnotise him into a confession.”

“That’s all right,” Quest replied, “but how am I to get hold of him?”

Laura glanced once more carelessly around to where the guard stood.

“Lenora’s gone up to the Professor’s again this afternoon.  She is going to try and get hold of Craig and lock him in the garage.  If she succeeds, she will send a message by wireless at three o’clock.  It is half-past two now.”

“Well?” Quest exclaimed.  “Well?”

“You can work this guard, if you want to,” Laura went on.  “I have seen you tackle much worse cases.  He seems dead easy.  Then let me in the cell, take my clothes and leave me here.  You did it before when you were trying to hunt down those men in Chicago, and not a soul recognised you.”

Quest followed the scheme in his mind quickly.

“It is all right,” he decided, “but I am not at all sure that they can really hold me on the evidence they have got.  If they can’t, I shall be doing myself more harm than good this way.”

“It’s no use unless you can get hold of Craig quickly,” Laura said.  “He is getting the scares, as it is.”

“I’ll do it,” Quest decided.  “Call the guard, Laura.”

She obeyed.  The man came good-naturedly towards them.

“Well, young people, not quarrelling, I hope?” he remarked.

Quest looked at him steadfastly through the bars.

“I want you to come inside for a moment,” he said.

“What for?” the man demanded.

“I want you to come inside for a moment,” Quest repeated softly.  “Unlock the door, please, take the key off your bunch and come inside.”

The man hesitated, but all the time his fingers were fumbling with the keys.  Quest’s lips continued to move.  The warder opened the door and entered.  A few minutes later, Quest passed the key through the window to Laura, who was standing on guard.

“Come in,” he whispered.  “Don’t step over him.  He is sitting with his back to the wall, just inside.”

Laura obeyed, and entered the cell.  For a moment they were breathless with alarm.  A passing warder looked down their avenue.  Eventually, however, he turned in the other direction.