“The paint’s still sticky,” said the Captain, examining his finger, which had a bright red daub on the end. “It must have been spilled there quite recently.”
“The burglar must have spilled it himself,” said Katherine.
“But how on earth would a burglar know about this secret entrance?” marveled Sahwah.
The others were not prepared to answer.
“Maybe Hercules told somebody,” said Justice.
“But Hercules doesn’t seem to know about it himself,” said Katherine.
“He says he doesn’t, but I’ll bet he does, just the same,” said Justice.
“Hercules wouldn’t tell any burglar about this way of getting into the house!” Sahwah defended stoutly. “He’s as true as steel. If anybody told the burglar it was somebody beside Hercules.”
“Maybe the burglar discovered the other end of the passage himself, by accident, just as we did this end,” said Slim.
“Come on,” said the Captain impatiently, “let’s go and see where that other end is.”