He next examined the water-pipe up which the man presumably had climbed, and presently passed on to a similar pipe farther to the left. Every inch of ground he subjected to a careful and elaborate examination, lifting the lower branches of some evergreens and gazing beneath them.
Finally, closing his notebook with a snap, Malcolm Sage seated himself upon a garden-seat and, carefully filling and lighting his pipe, he became absorbed in the polished pinkness of the third fingernail of his left hand.
A quarter of an hour later he was joined by young Glanedale.
"Found anything?" he enquired.
"There are some footprints," said Malcolm Sage, looking at him keenly. "By the way, what did you do when you heard of the robbery?"
"I went to the Mater's room."
"And after that?"
"I rushed downstairs and started looking about."
"You didn't happen to come anywhere near this spot, or walk upon the mould there?" He nodded at the place he had just been examining.
"No; as a matter of fact, I avoided it. The Mater warned me to be careful."