Bertie rings the fire alarm bell at night as planned, and everybody comes out as expected. But no reconciliation takes place, and the plan fails. Moreover, when trying to get back in they find that all the doors are locked and that the key to the backroom door is held by Seppings, who is at the ball at Kingham Manor with the rest of the staff. The doors to the garage also being locked, the only way to get to Kingham is to use a bike which is leaning against the wall. After Bertie having been scolded by Aunt Dahlia for needlessly ringing the alarm, all agree that it will be up to him to get the backdoor key from Seppings at Kingham. Bertie sets off to Kingham but when he arrives there Seppings tells him that he gave the key to Jeeves and Bertie has to pedal the nine mile stretch back to Brinkley.