Without moving, Lanyard directed his voice toward the ceiling.
"Did you by any chance open it and see what was inside?"
There was no answer, and though he was careful not to betray any interest by watching them, he was well aware that looks of alarm and suspicion were being exchanged by those three. So much for enjoying the prestige of a stupendously successful criminal past! A single thought was in the mind of Liane Delorme, Captain Monk, and Mr. Phinuit: With the Lone Wolf, nothing was impossible.
Liane Delorme said abruptly, in a choking voice: "Open the safe, please, Captain Monk."
"I'll do nothing of the sort."
"Go on," Phinuit advised--"make sure. If it's true, we get them back, don't we? If it isn't, we show him up for a pitiful bluff."
"It's a dodge," Monk declared, "to get the jewels where he can lay hands on them. The safe stays shut."
"Open it, I beg you!" Liane implored in tremulous accents.
"No--"
"Why not?" Phinuit argued. "What can he do? I've got him covered."