The outer office was filling; the corridor was being packed by the arriving throngs.

Examiner Starr took command of the situation.  He noted the nickel badge on Dorsey’s breast.  “Officer, put every person except Mr. Britt out of this building!”

But Watchman Dorsey, though he commanded and pushed, was not able to make any impression.

“By my authority as bank examiner, I order this place cleared!” bellowed Mr. Starr.  The folks of Egypt showed that they were greatly interested in the volume of voice possessed by “Foghorn Fremont,” but they did not retreat.  For that matter, the crowd in the room was thoroughly blocked at the door by the press in the corridor.

Starr’s attention was wholly taken up by one individual for the next few minutes.  Prophet Elias boldly advanced, after worming his way out of the throng; he pushed the examiner aside from the door of the grille and went into the inner inclosure.  An intruder who was prosaically garbed would not have prevailed as easily as this bizarre individual with the deep-set eyes, assertive mien, and wearing a robe that put him out of the ordinary run of humanity.  But Mr. Starr got back his voice and ordered the Prophet to walk out.

Elias turned slowly and faced Starr.  The Prophet’s feet were hidden by the robe and he came around with the effect of a window dummy revolving on a support.  Starr bawled more furious demands.

But the Prophet did not lower his crest. “’Many bulls have compassed me:  strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.’”

Then the Prophet spatted his palm upon the legend on his breast and clacked a disdainful digit off the pivot of his thumb.  Tasper Britt, even in his hottest ire, had been restrained in the past by some influence from laying violent hands on this peculiar personage.  It was evident that Starr was controlled by a similar reluctance and that his forbearance was puzzling him.  When the Prophet got down on his knees, Starr was silent; it looked as if this zealot intended to offer prayer—­and the bank examiner did not care to earn the reputation of being a disturber of a religious gathering.  But Elias doubled over and began to crawl around the room on his hands and knees, peering intently and cocking his ear and seeming to take much interest in his undertaking.

Until then, in the rush of events, in the haste of gathering at the scene of the tragedy, in the wild uncertainty as to what had happened, nobody had taken the time to study the details of the conditions in the bank inclosure.

Starr ordered Dorsey to stand in front of the grille door and keep out all persons.  The examiner was obliged to urge Britt to unclasp his hands and follow him before the door was closed and locked against the crowd.