There was a pause, during which time both men lit cigars.
"How is the bloody business going?" asked Matlock Styles presently.
"Oh, I manage to earn my salary," answered the secret service man, with a dry laugh. "I don't get promoted though."
"You ought to try to unearth some big mystery. That would get your name in the papers."
"I don't want my name in the papers. I am doing well enough. Ain't I on the track of those counterfeits? What more do you want?"
"Yes, but you haven't got them yet, blast the luck! And you say you had the safe open?"
"I did."
"Then why didn't you look inside? I should have done so."
"I thought I'd get a better chance later on. But when I went back hang me if I could work the combination again."
"Have the safe makers opened the safe yet?"