I have not been here, remember!" He ran lightly down the steps and into the kitchen, picked up a basket, filled it haphazard with vegetables and threw a cloth over the top.

Then he made his way to the front door, peered out for a moment, swung through it on to the step, and, turning round, commenced to belabour it with his fist.

Two plain-clothes men stood at the end of the street.

A police automobile drew up outside the gate.

Inspector French, attended by a policeman, stepped out.