“Yes, been out some time. I know that.”
“Well, they came back, and caught these two chaps breaking into the way to their underground bank, and they treated them like burglars, and shot them. Then there was a row; that lady you talk about wouldn’t stand it; you raised the alarm.”
“And they’ve sloped. Ah, we ought to have had them, sir.”
“Oh, we’ll do it yet. They can’t get away very far, my lad. Now then, what are you thinking about now?”
“All those quids, sir. I’m sure I’m right now. Big swells like they were, as I’ve often seen, with tip-top carriages and horses, wouldn’t coin their own gold even if they’d got a mine. They’re a gang of coiners, sir, and so you’ll see. Got one of the sovs., sir?”
“No.”
“Then take one of those little bars, and have that examined.”
The superintendent picked up one of the ingots, looked at it intently and shook his head.
“Ah, you can’t tell by that, sir,” said his subordinate. “I say, look, sir; they’ve had the electric light. I wonder where they turn it on.”
The place was soon found, the stud pressed, and about a dozen glass bulbs shed a beautifully soft light through the arched place.