"I saw it this morning," answered the porter without hesitation, "and I washed it away."
"You should have called the police," said the other severely.
"Should I, sir?" The porter affected great politeness all at once. "You will excuse my ignorance."
"We are wasting time," Volterra said to the detective. "The porter knows nothing about it. Let us go upstairs."
He led the way, and the others followed, including Gigi, who carried a leathern bag containing a few tools.
"It is of no use to ring again," observed Volterra. "There cannot be anybody in the apartment, and this is my own house. Open that door for us, my man, and do as little damage as you can."
Gigi looked at the patent lock.
"I cannot pick that, sir," he said. "The gentleman made me put it on for him, and it is one of those American patent locks."
"Break it, then," Volterra answered.
Gigi selected a strong chisel, and inserted the blade in the crack of the door, on a level with the brass disk. He found the steel bolt easily.