“Yes, he always put on that coat after dinner.”
Derrick nodded, opened a drawer in the bottom of the desk, and produced a velveteen smoking-jacket.
“I thought that might be, so rooted out this old one of mine. Now we must shift the desk; then you can arrange the things on it. In a general way, are the contents of the room just the same?”
“Exactly, I think,” said the girl, after a swift scrutiny.
“And that French window, was it locked?”
“Yes, always before dinner at this time of year.”
He gave a curious smile, “To-night I think we’ll leave it open.”
“How stupid, Jack!” interjected Edith, “and let the man escape.”
“He can’t, because he’ll be chained to the sergeant. It’s with another object. Now are you ready?”
Jean sent him a quick glance. She guessed the object, and it made her heart beat faster.