“That, too—combination of sideboard and silver-safe.”
“Safe!” I laughed. “You don't keep the silver in there?”
“Why not?”
“My dear man, any one could pry that door off with a pen-knife.”
“Admitted. But supposing your 'any one' to be a burglar, he'd have to get to the door before he could pry it off, would he not, Griggs?”
“Burglars do not, as a rule, find great difficulty in entering the average house,” I suggested.
“Aha! That's just it—the average house!” cried the inventor. “This isn't the average house, Griggs. The burglar who tries to get into this particular house is distinctly up against it!”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, sir! The crook that attempts a nocturnal entrance here has my sincere and heartfelt sympathy.”
“Hawkins' Patent Automatic Burglar Alarm?” I suggested.