"This," said Harvey, as they emerged on to the gravel, "is something
like. I'm jolly glad we're in it."



"Rather. Do you think O'Hara will catch them?"

"He must if he waits down there long enough. They're certain to come
again. Don't you wish you'd been here when the League was on before?"

"I should think I did. Race you over to the shop. I want to get
something before it shuts."

"Right ho!" And they disappeared.

O'Hara waited where he was till six struck from the clock-tower,
followed by the sound of the bell as it rang for lock-up. Then he
picked his way carefully through the groves of chairs, barking his
shins now and then on their out-turned legs, and, pushing open the
door, went out into the open air. It felt very fresh and pleasant after
the brand of atmosphere supplied in the vault. He then ran over to the
gymnasium to meet Moriarty, feeling a little disgusted at the lack of
success that had attended his detective efforts up to the present. So
far he had nothing to show for his trouble except a good deal of dust
on his clothes, and a dirty collar, but he was full of determination.
He could play a waiting game.

It was a pity, as it happened, that O'Hara left the vault when he did.
Five minutes after he had gone, six shadowy forms made their way
silently and in single file through the doorway of the vault, which