“I try never to be surprised at anything however outré,” Harleston explained. “Good-night.”
The two men looked at the recumbent figure and then at each other and laughed.
“He acts the part,” said the elder. “Have you found anything?”
“Nothing! It’s not in the safe nor the writing-table—nor anywhere else that is reasonable. I’ve been through everything and there’s nothing doing.”
“You’re not going?” Harleston remarked.
“You’re asleep, Mr. Harleston!” Marston reminded. “The letter is here: we’ve simply got to find it.”
“A letter is easy to conceal,” the younger replied. “There’s nothing but to overturn everything in the place—and so on; and that will require a day.”
“So that you replace things, I’ve not the slightest objection,” Harleston interjected. “Bang away, sirs, bang away! Anything to relieve me from suspicion.”
“It prevents him from sleeping!” Sparrow laughed.
“Also yourselves,” Harleston supplemented. “However, you for it, remembering that cock-crow comes earlier now than in December, and the people too are up betimes. You risk interruption, I fear, from my solicitous friends.”