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"Here! what was that?" he exclaimed.

"That," said Firth, with ponderous sarcasm, "was an example of felis domestica, or common hoose cat. The bell push is directly before ye ... For heaven's sake, what's that!"

"That" was another cat, which had brushed against Firth's leg in retiring. And now Sergeant Bluett began to shine his torch into shadows behind the low parapet—and out from this cover sprang countless cats of all kinds; certainly no less than ten! When the last of the cats, a large and majestic Persian, had been put to flight by the questing ray, Sergeant Bluett inhaled deeply.

The three men before the scarlet door exchanged glances. It was the police driver who spoke.

"That's funny," he said.

Inspector Firth half turned as if to reply, then evidently changed his mind, and addressed Bluett instead.

"Ring again—and keep on ringing."

So that once more that remote buzzing might be heard from somewhere behind the scarlet door. And now Firth pressed his ear to one of the enamelled panels.