Constable Haggers was a man whose superstitious fear of the
flames got the better of his constabulary training in every way. He said
he would do what he could, but he would certainly attempt nothing until
broad daylight. He believed the story in every particular and said that
it was well-nigh impossible to trace the vanished man. "There had been
others," was all he would say, "and never a trace of 'em 'ave we ever
seen!"
Telephoning the Brelliers was a mere matter of minutes, and by that means
Merriton made perfectly sure that Wynne had not put in an appearance at
Withersby Hall. Brellier himself answered the phone, and said that he was
just thinking that as Wynne hadn't turned up yet, they must indeed have
been making a night of it at the Towers.
"However," he continued, "if you say you all retired around about one
o'clock, and Wynne left you soon after ten--well, I can't think what has
become of him...."
"He went out to investigate those devilish flames!" remarked Merriton, as
a rather shamefaced explanation.
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