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down BEHIND the ladder, so that they will not see you?"
Tommy nodded.
"There's a big cupboard in the shadow of the landing. Stand behind it. Take the
end of this string in your hand. When I've let the others out--PULL!"
Before he had time to ask her anything more, she had flitted lightly down the
ladder and was in the midst of the group with a loud cry:
"
Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! Qu'est-ce qu'il y a?"
The German turned on her with an oath.
Get out of this. Go to your room!"
"
Very cautiously Tommy swung himself down the back of the ladder. So long as
they did not turn round... all was well. He crouched behind the cupboard. They
were still between him and the stairs.
"AH!" Annette appeared to stumble over something. She stooped. "Mon Dieu, voila
la clef!"
The German snatched it from her. He unlocked the door. Conrad stumbled out,
swearing.
"Where is he? Have you got him?"
"
We have seen no one," said the German sharply. His face paled. "Who do you
mean?"
Conrad gave vent to another oath.
"
"
He's got away."
Impossible. He would have passed us."
At that moment, with an ecstatic smile Tommy pulled the string. A crash of
crockery came from the attic above. In a trice the men were pushing each other
up the rickety ladder and had disappeared into the darkness above.
Quick as a flash Tommy leapt from his hiding-place and dashed down the stairs,
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