"That's where they got in," he said. "Nothing easier. There is no door,
I suppose, between the Marquess's room and the window here?"
"No," replied Heyton, moistening his lips as he stood behind the
Inspector.
"And you are sure this window was open when you went out this morning,
my lord? What time was that, by the way?"
"A little after six," replied Heyton. "It was deuced hot; I woke and had
a fancy for a swim. There was no one about, and I opened the door, this
door, for myself."
"Oh, it's plain enough," said the Inspector, nodding once or twice.
"It's quite easy for them to slip this hasp back with an ordinary knife.
The rest isn't difficult to guess. They must have made some noise while
they were breaking into the safe; well, not 'breaking into' it, for they
must have opened it with a key, because there wasn't even the mark of an
ordinary chisel on the safe. You noticed that, my lord, no doubt?"
"I--I can't say I did," said Heyton; "I'm a bit upset and confused, you
know."
"Yes, it was opened with a key," said the Inspector, "and that's the
only part of the business that troubles me. That's a good safe, my lord;
one of the first-class makers, and it couldn't have been opened with a
skeleton key; in fact, with anything but the proper key or a duplicate."
"Oh?" said Heyton. "Where did they get it?"
The Inspector shook his head. "Of course, that's just the puzzle, my
lord. I'm afraid we shall have to leave that to the Scotland Yard man."
As he spoke, he took out his whistle and blew sharply on it. A constable
came to the door and saluted.
"Got your men placed, Brown?" asked the Inspector. "Just put another man
on the drive, and give him orders that no man is to enter the lodge
gates excepting the detective, when he comes."
"What's that for?" asked Heyton, as if the question were inspired by his
desire to understand everything that was being done.
"I don't want a lot of people tramping over the place," said the
Inspector, rather evasively.
"Oh, ah, yes," said Heyton. "Well, I'll go upstairs again. Send for me,
if you want me, Inspector."
He went upstairs, paused a moment outside the Marquess's door, then went
on to his own dressing-room. He listened at the door leading to the
bedroom; but there was no sound. He touched the handle of the door; but
he could not open it, though he knew that Miriam was in the room, and
that he ought to go to her. He could not. He rang the bell, and when the
valet came, Heyton told him to bring some whisky and soda. But even the
draught of almost undiluted spirit could not give him sufficient courage
to face his wife.