After a moment's pause Bullard said—"Yes, of course, we are aware that all here was gifted to Mr. Alan; also Mr. Craig mentioned the clock. But now, would you have any objections to taking us upstairs, on the chance that our document is lying about where we were sitting?"
Caw considered quickly. To his mind, their story had been damned by the mention of the Green Box; at the same time, he was quite aware that they had only to persist in their story to obtain legal authority to search the room upstairs, and his master had commanded "no police interference." He felt pretty confident, too, that they would hardly attempt to play the burglar game in his presence, but he was curious to see how far they would go, and he was not unarmed.
"Be so good as to follow me, gentlemen," he said in his stiff way, and led them in the desired direction.
The master's room, though fireless, was warm. In silence they entered, their footfalls soundless on the heavy carpet.
Bullard halted in front of the clock with its flashing pendulum. "Is this what he spoke of," he enquired softly, "and when does it stop?"
The servant cleared his throat. "A year to-night, sir."
"Ah! … And why this—and this?" He pointed first to the ebony slip, then to the green fluid.
"To prevent its being interfered with; also, no doubt to protect the jewels in the pendulum."
"Is it the liquid that is dangerous?"
"So I understand, sir."