“No, sir; not without coming through the house. I have laid awake lots of times, sir, trying to put that and that together; but it’s all been like a maze, sir—a sort of maze, sir, made like with no way in and no way out.”
“Humph!” said the Colonel, looking at the man searchingly. “I have heard of cases where people have come to a house and asked the servants if somebody was at home when the speaker knew that he was out, and then made an excuse to be shown into a room to write a letter to the gentleman, say the Doctor, whom he wanted to see; Did such a thing happen in your recollection? No, no; don’t hurry. Tax your memory.—Ah!—What is it?”
“I’ve got it, sir!” cried Wrench excitedly.
“Oh!” said the Colonel quietly. “Well, what did happen?”
“To be sure, somebody did come just as you said, sir, as you asked me that question, once. But it hasn’t got anything to do with the stealing of that belt.”
“Perhaps not,” said the Colonel; “but let us hear. You say somebody did once come and ask for the Doctor when he was out?”
“Begging your pardon, sir, no, sir. It wasn’t to see the Doctor, sir. It was on the day when everybody was out, gone to the Strongley cricket-match, and there was nobody at home but the maids and me, for Mrs Hamton our housekeeper, sir, had leave from the Doctor to go and see a friend who was ill.”
“Well,” said the Colonel sharply, “what is it, Glyn?” For the boy had jumped up excitedly.
“That was the day, father, when Singh left the keys in the lock of his box.”
“Exactly,” said the Colonel. “Sit down, my boy.—Well, my man, whom did this stranger ask to see?”