Peace in the meanwhile was busily engaged in collecting together all the valuables he could lay his hands upon. These he placed in a heap on the counter of the shop.
The housekeeper and the shopman were all this time sleeping soundly.
While engaged in his depredations he heard the sounds of voices outside and saw the fitful flashing of lights against the windows of the residence.
He closed the door of the shop, locked it, and put the key into his pocket, then he proceeded upstairs into the front room, first floor, and listened.
People were astir in the street.
He peeped through the window blind and saw three or four policemen in front of the house.
“The devil!” he ejaculated, perfectly astounded at the discovery. “Bobbies! Here’s a pretty go; I’m done as brown as a berry.”
He drew back from the window blind, and began to seriously consider what was to be done.
It was too plainly evident that the police, from some cause or other, were on the alert.
To return by means of the roof was now an impossibility, as his movements would be seen and capture certain. What was he to do?