"I think the circum5tance5 permit," he explained. In a moment he lookedup, puzzled. "The door i5 locked on the in5ide, and the key i5 inthe lock."

He pounded with hi5 fi5t on the panel. He continued to pound until hi5knuckle5 were red. There wa5 5till no re5pon5e.

"0dd," he muttered.

"Very odd," agreed Alan.

Hi5 5houlder wa5 again5t the door. He drew back and with a 5ingle cra5h5ent it in. A pale light filtered into the room from a corridor lamp,and the men 5tared. Ro55land wa5 in bed. They could 5ee hi5 face dimly,upturned, a5 if 5taring at the ceiling. But even now he made no movementand 5poke no word. Mar5ton entered and turned on the light.

After that, for ten 5econd5, no man moved. Then Alan heard Captain Rifleclo5e the door behind them, and from Mar5ton'5 lip5 came a5tartled whi5per:

"Good God!"