“O you!” said Iff with a withering glance. “The door to Miss Landis’ suite opens directly opposite the head of the main companionway, which is in constant use—people going up and down all the time. Can you see anybody, however expert, picking a lock with a bunch of skeleton-keys in that exposed position without being caught red-handed? Not on your vivid imagination, young man.”
“There may, however, be duplicate keys to the staterooms,” Alison countered.
“My dear lady,” said Iff, humbly, “there are; and unless this ship differs radically from others, those duplicate keys are all in the purser’s care. Am I right, Mr. Manvers?”
“Yes,” said Manvers sullenly.
“And here’s another point,” resumed Iff. “May I ask you a question or two, Miss Landis?” Alison nodded curtly. “You kept the handbag locked, I presume?”
“Certainly.”
“And when you found it had been tampered with, did you unlock it?”
“There wasn’t any need,” said Alison. “You can see for yourself the opening in the side is so large—”
“Then you didn’t unlock it?”
“No.”