Randall's expressive black brows rose. “You should not give way to mere prejudice, Superintendent,” he said. “Are you accusing me of suppressing valuable evidence? I would point out to you that when you asked me if I had elicited from Brown where Hyde had kept his papers I told you with the utmost readiness.”
“With the utmost readiness when it was too late to be of use!” Hannasyde said sternly.
“Now you are talking in riddles,” sighed Randall. “If you want me to understand you you will have to be more intelligible.”
“Would it surprise you to learn that John Hyde's safe was visited early this morning, and its entire contents removed?” asked Hannasyde.
Randall's brow wrinkled slightly. “No, I don't know that I think it would,” he replied, after a pause for consideration. “Perhaps he was aware of the interest you take in him.”
Hannasyde pulled the folded newspaper out of his pocket, and handed it to Randall. “Take a look at the announcements of deaths, Mr Matthews!” he said.
Randall glanced down the column, and said placidly: “Well, well! How very disconcerting! Does it happen to be true?”
“I have every reason to believe that it is entirely false,” answered Hannasyde. “But it enabled some person calling himself Hyde's brother to get at the safe, and to walk off with the contents.”
“I don't wonder that you are out of humour,” said Randall sympathetically. “Can't you trace this person? And did the officials in charge of the safe-depository just break open the safe, or use a skeleton key, or what? It all sounds most irregular.”
“That wasn't necessary,” said Hannasyde. “The so-called brother had Hyde's key in his possession.”