"You've heard about it?" he asked in an agitated voice.
"Yes—Miss Chambers told me."
At that moment the safe door swung open. "There you are," said the spectacled man, with a complacent little grunt.
Mr. Haddon dismissed the man and knelt before the safe. Helen and Dr. Thorn leaned over him, and David, still stunned by the suddenness of the catastrophe, looked whitely on from behind them. A minute, and Mr. Haddon's search was over.
He looked about at the others. "It's not here," he said quietly.
A noise at the door caused all to turn in that direction. There stood the reporters. They had edged into the apartment as the safe-expert had gone out.
"Will you gentlemen please wait outside!" requested Mr. Haddon, sharply.
"We've got to hurry to catch the afternoon editions," one spoke up. "Can't you give us the main facts right now? You've got 'em all—I just heard you say the money wasn't here."
"I'll see you in a few minutes," answered Mr. Haddon, and brusquely pressed them before him into the corridor.
When he reëntered the study he looked at them all grimly. "There's absolutely no keeping this from the papers," he said.