“Then how did he get back and do so much before you reached the study?”
“I opened the front door and looked out for a couple of minutes,” was the reply. “I was rattled, of course, and don’t know how long I stood there, but I remember seeing two men running down the street. If I had known then that they had my emerald necklace, I’d have chased them and roared until the police came up and stopped them.”
“Then you came right in?”
“Yes; right to the corridor where I found the maid lying on the floor.”
“And you remained with your father until the doctor came, and then went back to your room? It was then that you discovered the loss of the emerald necklace?”
“Yes, I missed it when I came back.”
“You saw only two intruders?” asked Ned.
“There were only two.”
“And these two ran down the staircase just ahead of you?”
“Yes; they went down in about one leap.”