“I’m afraid,” Mr. Duke admitted despondently, “there was no secret about it. Gething knew, of course. He was entirely in my confidence about such matters. Vanderkemp, my outdoor man, knew that I had made some heavy purchases recently, as he not only conducted the negotiations, but personally brought the stones to the office. Besides, there were letters about them, accessible to all the staff. I am afraid you may take it that every one in the office knew there was a lot of stuff there, though probably not the exact amount.”
“And the staff may have talked to outsiders. Young people will brag, especially if they are ‘keeping company,’ as the Irish say.”
“I fear that is so,” Mr. Duke agreed, as if deprecating the singular habits of the young.
The Inspector changed his position uneasily, and his hand stole to his pipe. But he checked himself and resumed his questioning. He obtained from Mr. Duke a detailed list of the missing stones, then turned to a new point.
“About that thousand pounds in notes. I suppose you haven’t got the numbers?”
“No, unfortunately. But the bank might know them.”
“We shall inquire. Now, Mr. Duke, about the key. That is another singular thing.”
“It is an amazing thing. I absolutely cannot understand where it came from. As I said, this one never leaves, nor has left, my personal possession, and the other, the only other one, is equally inaccessible in my bank.”
“You always personally opened or closed the safe?”
“Always, or at least it was done by my instructions and in my presence.”