Some baths have a cupboard beneath the taps, with a door at the side, but this one appeared to have none.

He tapped the panels, but not a single one of them gave forth that 'curious hollow sound' which usually betokens a secret place.

Idly he turned the cold-tap of the bath, and the water began to rush in.

He turned off the cold-tap and turned on the waste-tap, and as he did so his knee, which was pressing against the panelling, slipped forward.

The panelling had given way, and he saw that one large panel was hinged from the inside, and caught with a hasp, also on the inside.