Hand in hand they ran wildly down wharfingers Lane. They reached the turning at the bottom and pulled up outside the theatre.

“Listen!” Emily exclaimed. “Somebody is running from the stage-door alley.”

The other runner’s footsteps rang out louder and louder on the wet cobblestones.

He came out of the alley, saw them and flung himself at Peregrine, pawing at his coat.

“For Gawsake!” he said. “Oh, my Gawd, Mr. Jay!”

“What the devil’s the matter? What’s happened!”

“Murder,” the man said, “that’s what’s happened, Mr. Jay. Murder.”