The thin lips parted in a grin.
“You ’ave the advantage of me,” he said with mordant humour.
“You are the man who was cleaning the windows yesterday morning?”
The burglar nodded.
“Got me first time. Stark’s my name—I’m not giving any trouble, and if you tell the judge I had a gun you’re a liar.”
He raised his voice a little. Gordon glanced round fearfully, but the detective was snoring again.
“Ssh! Not so loud. Have you opened the safe?”
The idea came to him at that second: a brain flash of singular brilliance.
“I should have done if you’d been a minute later,” said Stark plaintively. “You’ve spoilt a good night’s work.”
Gordon nodded.