The three of them solemnly trooped out, leaving Carmichael bewildered.

Alone, his mind searched a thousand channels, but these were blind and led nowhere.

Blunder, wrong?
What did Grumbach mean by that?
What kind of a blunder, and who was innocently wronged?
No use! And while he was thus racking his mind he heard steps on the stairs.

These steps were hurried.

The door above shut noisily.
"By George! I'll attend to that this minute.