'Let me see that box,' he said peremptorily, 'put it down.'
Saunders, who had rested the box on the back of a chair, placed it gently on the table, assisted by Isaac. A few feet away stood Bessie, saying nothing, her hand holding the duster on her hip, her eyes following her husband.
He looked carefully at the two sovereigns lying on the bit of old cloth which covered the bottom of the box, and the one half-crown that Timothy had forgotten; he took up the bit of cloth and shook it, he felt along the edge of the box, he examined the wrenched lock. Then he stood for an instant, his hand on the box, his eyes staring straight before him in a kind of dream.
Saunders grew impatient. He pushed John aside, and came to the table, leaning his hands upon it, so as to command Isaac's face.
'Now, look 'ere, Isaac,' he said, in a different voice from any that he had yet employed, 'let's come to business. These 'ere are the facks o' this case, an 'ow we're a-goin to get over 'em, I don see. John leaves his money in your cupboard. Yo an he lock it up, an John goes away with 'is keys 'ung roun 'is neck. Yo agree to that? Well and good. But there's another key in your 'ouse, Isaac, as opens John's cupboard. Ah—'
He waved his hand in deprecation of Isaac's movement.
'I dessay yo didn't know nowt about it—that's noather 'ere nor there. Yo try John's key in that there door'—he pointed to the cupboard by the fire—'an yo'll find it fits ex—act. Then, thinks I, where's the key as belongs to that 'ere cupboard? An John an I goes upstairs to look about us, an in noa time at aw, I sees a 'ole in the skirtin. I whips in my finger—lor bless yer! I knew it wor there the moment I sets eyes on the hole.'
He held up the key triumphantly. By this time, no Old Bailey lawyer making a hanging speech could have had more command of his task.
''Ere then we 'ave'—he checked the items off on his fingers—'box locked up—key in the 'ouse as fits it, unbeknown to John—money tuk out—key 'idden away. But that's not all—not by long chalks—there's another side to the affair _hal_togefher.'
Saunders drew himself up, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and cleared his throat.