“Roughly ten pounds,” he said. “In other words, eight hundred pounds’ worth of gold.”
He was examining the cloth in which the idol had been wrapped, and uttered an exclamation.
“Look at this,” he said.
Written on one corner, in indelible pencil, were the words:
“Second shelf up left Gods lobby sixth.”
Suddenly Manfred remembered.
“Would you have this figure put on the scales right away?” he said. “I’m curious to know the exact weight.”
“Why?” asked Meadows in surprise, as he rang the bell.
The proprietor himself, who was aware that a police search was in progress, answered the call, and, at the detective’s request, hurried down to the kitchen and returned in a few minutes with a pair of scales, which he placed on the table. He was obviously curious to know the purpose for which they were intended, but Inspector Meadows did not enlighten him, standing pointedly by the door until the gentleman had gone.
The figure was taken from under the cloth where it had been hidden whilst the scales were being placed, and put in one shallow pan on the machine.