“I’m sorry you have had all this trouble, Inspector,” he was saying. “It’s too bad on a day like this.”
“It is a bit warm, sir,” the inspector admitted, mopping vigorously.
“I should have thought they might have provided you with a car or something. Hullo, Sheringham. Come to see the safe opened?”
“If the inspector has no objections,” Roger said.
“Me, sir? Not in the least. In fact, I think everybody concerned ought to be present. Not that I really expect to find anything particularly important, but you never know, do you?”
“Never,” said Roger gravely.
“Well, Lady Stanworth will be down in a minute, no doubt,” Jefferson remarked; “and then we can see to it. You had no difficulty in getting the combination, Inspector?”
“None at all, sir. It was only a question of ringing up the makers. Whew! It is hot!”
Roger had been watching Jefferson carefully. There was no doubt that, whatever his feelings about the opening of the safe had been in the morning, he was now quite unperturbed. Roger was more convinced than ever that something of the first importance must have occurred to effect this radical change.
A slow tread overhead caused him to look up. Lady Stanworth was descending the stairs.