They're likely to be more hungry for a surprise rush, than for a siege with resistance thrown in.

If--" He ceased speaking, his attention caught by a sight which, to the others, carried no significance, whatever.
Simon Cameron, the insolently lazy Persian cat, had been awakened from a nap in a rose-basket on the top of one of the hall bookcases.

The tramping of feet, the scrambling ejection of the Jap butler, the clanging shut of many metal blinds--all these had interfered with the calm peacefulness of Simon Cameron's slumbers.
Wherefore, the cat had awakened, had stretched all four shapeless paws out to their full length in luxurious flexing, and had then arisen majestically to his feet and had stretched again, arching his fluffy back to an incredible height.

After which, the cat had dropped lightly to the floor, five feet below his resting place, and had started across the hall in a mincing progress toward some spot where his cherished nap could be pursued without so much disturbance from noisy humans.
All this, Brice had seen without taking any more note of it than had the two others.

But now, his gaze fixed itself on the animal.
Simon Cameron's flowingly mincing progress had brought him to the dining room doorway.