“That’s rather a shadowy kind of existence,” he said, “but it’s nice to be dreamed into existence by such delightful people.”
“Look here, you two,” said Audry, “talk a little common sense. What are we going to do about this thief?”
“I think it must be some one in the house,” Aline remarked. “I do not think any one could get over the moat.”
“People like this lady would think nothing of swimming the moat,” said Ian.
“People like this lady would not do anything of the kind,” said Aline; “they could not even get out of the water on the inner side at all, as it is a perfectly straight wall all round, and even if they did, they would go drip, drip, drip, wherever they went and we have seen nothing like that.”
“They could take off their clothes,” objected Audry.
“Yes, and if they were disturbed,” Aline continued, “and had to escape in a hurry, I suppose they would not think they looked a little conspicuous and suspicious, eh?”
“Where is the silver kept?” asked Ian.
“Most of it,” said Audry, “is kept in the treasury, the little room near the gateway where the secret passage goes. I expect that is partly the reason for the passage; so that if the owner ever had to flee from the house in time of danger, he would come back and get his valuables without risk; but what an opportunity a thief would have who knew of the passage!”