Fred was eyeing Hanson with a little tingle passing up and down his spine .sx This police inspector looked genuine enough , but Freeman was taking no chances .sx The fact that the inspector was a total stranger increased his suspicions .sx Fred was well acquainted with most of the police officers who operated in this district .sx . " Sorry , sir , " he said blandly .sx " I'd better tell you the truth , I think .sx No need for you to waste your time .sx Mr. Conquest went out some time ago .sx " Hanson's lips tightened .sx He believed this to be a lie .sx Landis had been watching , and he was convinced that the Conquests had not left- and Landis was a man who had been well trained for work of this kind .sx " So Mr. Conquest went out ?sx " said Hanson , with ominous calm .sx " I'd advise you not to lie to me , my man .sx If Conquest gave you orders to say that he was out .sx . " " No , sir .sx He went out .sx I saw him go .sx " " When did he go ?sx And where ?sx " " Didn't say where , sir- never does say .sx " " When do you expect him back ?sx " " Never expect him back , sir , " said Fred , in the same bland voice .sx " He's a very uncertain young gentleman , is Mr. Conquest .sx Might be hours .sx Might be days .sx " " Was he alone ?sx " " No , sir .sx His wife was with him .sx " Hanson was now certain that Freeman was lying .sx Landis could not possibly have missed seeing the small , attractive figure of Joy .sx Hanson was rapidly becoming exasperated , and he showed it in his manner .sx " Who else is in the flat ?sx " he snapped .sx " Nobody , sir .sx " " No servants ?sx " " There's Miss Bliss , the housekeeper , but she left an hour ago .sx And there's Livingstone , who looks after Mr. Conquest's car , and does odd jobs .sx He went out , too .sx The flat's empty .sx " Hanson swore .sx " Listen to me , my man , " he said grimly , as he laid a hard hand on Fred's arm .sx " We in the police are well aware of Conquest and his tricky ways .sx He may live like a gentleman in an expensive penthouse , but he's worse than half the crooks in London .sx You're lying to me- on his orders .sx Take me up to the penthouse at once .sx " " What's the use ?sx " asked Freeman .sx " It's empty .sx " He was inwardly excited .sx He believed this police inspector to be a phony , and he had to decide what to do on the spur of the moment .sx It was the first time he had ever been required to take a really active part in one of his employer's enterprises , and he was thrilled .sx " That's enough , " said Hanson curtly .sx " Take me up immediately .sx " " All right , sir .sx " Freeman led the way to the private lift , and a minute later they were ascending .sx At the top , as soon as the door slid open , Hanson stepped out , and was annoyed to find Freeman following him .sx The lounge was empty .sx " All right- you can take the lift down , " said Hanson curtly " I shan't need you now .sx " " No , sir , " said Fred stubbornly .sx " I've had the guv'nor's orders not to let anybody into the flat , and if you wasn't a policeman I wouldn't have let you in .sx I'm staying until you've finished .sx " Hanson had not expected this difficulty .sx Even in his role of a police inspector there was a limit to the amount of ordering he could do .sx It would be dangerous to arouse this porter's suspicions .sx Also , the lounge was very empty , and the entire penthouse was silent , with no sign of life .sx " Mr. Conquest !sx " shouted Hanson loudly .sx Silence- except for a discreet cough from Fred .sx " I told you there wasn't anybody home , " he said .sx " No good you shouting , sir .sx " " Stay where you are , " snapped Hanson .sx He was not only puzzled , but alarmed .sx The Conquests were here- they must be here .sx If they had left , Landis would have seen them .sx Hanson suspected a trick .sx With a hand in the pocket of his uniform jacket- where he carried the gun- he made for the nearest door .sx It led through into the kitchen quarters .sx Everything tidy and neat , but no living thing present .sx Hanson quickly explored Aunt Susan's bedroom , which was also in this part of the penthouse .sx Baffled , he returned to the lounge .sx An examination of the bedrooms and bathroom led to the same result .sx Empty .sx He passed through the passage , watched amusedly by Fred , into the garage .sx No sign of life here , either .sx The shiny Merce@2de@3s was there , its windows shattered as of the previous night .sx " Hell !sx " muttered Hanson under his breath .sx He inwardly cursed Landis .sx The man had obviously fallen down on his job .sx In some way , every occupant of the penthouse had left the premises- and Landis had not seen them go .sx It was understandable that Aunt Susan and Livingstone had escaped the watcher's attention ; but it was incredible that he could have missed such striking figures as those of Norman and Joy .sx How the devil had he been tricked ?sx " Well , sir ?sx " asked Freeman patiently , as Hanson re-entered the lounge .sx " You appear to have been right , " admitted Hanson savagely .sx " There's nobody here .sx Take me down .sx " He made a move towards the lift , and then halted .sx He had caught sight of a card prominently displayed on the cocktail bar .sx He strode across , and examined it- and a fluttery sensation assailed his stomach .sx The card simply said- " Back on April the nineteenth .sx " The implication was obvious .sx The world , in Conquest's opinion , would still be functioning after the expiration of the True Prophet's deadline .sx Hanson inwardly squirmed .sx This young hell-hound was prepared for everything !sx He had even suspected that the opposition would invade the penthouse , and he had left this card for their benefit !sx Hanson's very appearance- his hard breathing , his frustration , his savage expression- assured Fred Freeman that he was a fake .sx No genuine police inspector would have reacted in this way .sx And Fred was agog with excitement because he had suddenly decided to make a move which might , or might not , meet with Conquest's approval .sx He was going to act on his own initiative , and his heart began to pump .sx " I'm sorry , sir , " he said , striving to keep his voice normal , " but there's one room you haven't seen .sx At least , I don't think you've seen it .sx I meant to tell you about it .sx It's a sort of private room .sx Mr. Conquest might be there .sx " Hanson swung round , staring .sx " A private room ?sx " " Yes , sir .sx You wouldn't have seen it .sx " " Take me to it .sx " Hanson had no suspicion that this ordinary-looking porter was adopting something of his employer's technique .sx He was not surprised , however , to hear that the flat contained a " private room .sx " Fedder had told him a great deal about the trickiness of the young man who signed himself " 1066 .sx " It was unfortunate , however , that Fedder had not mentioned the " private " - which Fedder himself had occupied , to his mortification , at the time when Conquest had been getting to grips with Pierre Dacca , the Paris criminal .sx " This way , sir .sx " Fred was quivering with eagerness .sx He led the way into the laboratory , which Hanson had already examined .sx A plain , austere apartment , gleaming with porcelain-tiled walls and glass shelves .sx Fred went straight across to the plain wall opposite the door .sx " It's here , sir , " he said , grinning .sx " What are you trying to do- make a fool of me ?sx " shouted Hanson .sx " There's no doorway in that wall .sx " Fred reached up , but Hanson did not see what his hand was doing ; all he knew was that a portion of the wall silently opened , revealing a void .sx Lights sprang on , and Hanson found himself staring into a comfortable little inner room , where there was a lounge and other articles of furniture .sx He took rapid steps to the doorway , and peered in .sx A fatal move .sx . For Hanson had placed himself exactly where Fred Freeman required him .sx A quick shove , and Hanson blundered headlong into the inner room .sx Before he could recover his balance , the wall had closed upon him .sx Fred , on his side , breathed heavily .sx " Blimey , I hope I've done right !sx " he muttered , thoroughly scared now that the thing had been accomplished .sx Months ago , Conquest had shown Freeman the secret of the inner room , saying that it might be useful , one day , for Fred to know about it .sx For Conquest trusted the man implicitly , and with good reason .sx Fred was as loyal as Livingstone himself .sx But this was the first time he had ever actively assisted Norman , and the occasion rather overawed him .sx He remembered something else .sx He again turned to the blank wall , and this time a little cubby-hole opened , not far from the door- much too small to admit the exit of a human body .sx He bent down , and saw Hanson's face staring at him .sx " How do you like it , mister ?sx " asked Fred recklessly .sx " You a police inspector ?sx A cop ?sx Like my foot !sx When do you think I was born- yesterday ?sx " " My God !sx " panted Hanson , his brain nearly bursting .sx He had been alarmed to find himself trapped , but to see the gloating face of his trapper peering at him through this hole was more than his nerve could stand .sx " Conquest put you up to this !sx " he snarled .sx " Let me out of here !sx " He pulled the gun out of his pocket and thrust it forward , thus certifying himself as a fake- for no genuine police inspector carries a gun .sx " Put your hands up !sx " Fred laughed .sx The threat was so idle that he could afford to laugh .sx All the same , he lost no time in sliding along the wall , out of range .sx There was still the danger that the trapped man would reach as far as possible through the opening , and use the gun , but Fred scotched this by operating the mechanism again , and causing the opening to close itself up .sx Not that he need have worried ; for Hanson was no gunman , and in the excitement of the moment he had forgotten to release the safety-catch of the automatic .sx " I was right , " whispered Fred to himself , with jubilation .sx " He's a phony .sx " The word put an idea into his head , and he hurried through to the lounge and went to the phone .sx He dialled a Streatham number , and in a few moments was gratified to hear Conquest's clear voice .sx " It's me , sir- Fred , " panted the porter .sx " Something's happened , sir .sx I don't know whether I've done right , but I hope I have .sx " " You sound hoarse , Fred .sx Calm down , and tell me exactly what happened , " came Conquest's voice .sx " Spare no details , however slight , for I suspect that your singular narrative will be fraught with interest .sx " " Come off it , Mr. Conquest , " protested Fred .sx " This is serious .sx I've got a man locked up in your secret room .sx . " He went into details , describing exactly what had happened .sx . " Did I do right , sir ?sx " he ended anxiously .sx " The word 'right' is totally inadequate , Fred , " replied Norman , with a chuckle in his voice .sx " Well done !sx As nice a piece of work as I can remember .sx I thought there might be some kind of enemy activity , although I hardly expected it to explode so soon .sx This blighter has a gun , eh ?sx You'd better warn Bill Williams about that .sx " " Mr. Williams , sir ?sx " " Yes .sx As soon as we've hung up , get through to Scotland Yard , ask for the superintendent , and tell him what you've got .sx He'll be charmed .sx Another of the ungodly for Bill's collection .sx We're not doing so badly , Fred .sx This bloke of yours seems to be one of the more important specimens .sx " The porter , who had not the faintest idea of the game which Conquest was playing , asked no questions .sx He was satisfied with Norman's words of praise , and he lost no time in getting in touch with Scotland Yard .sx . At Hampstead , Fedder was impatiently awaiting Hanson's return .sx He was not too satisfied with Hanson .sx More than once , since they had parted , he had felt that he should have sent a more determined , more ruthless man on this particular assignment .sx Too late now , of course .sx All he could do was wait .sx The truth was , Fedder had been pitchforked into near-panic action by the fear that Conquest , if any delay took place , would elude him .sx