When he returned with his companions for the last time, Margate brought a screw driver from the wagon.
“Off with the cover, Jim,” said Deland coldly. “Save the screws so that we may fasten it on again—with this meddlesome feller under it. I will teach him to interfere with my business, already sufficiently hazardous. Make haste. Put the stuff out here on the ground. We four then can take it to the wagon, after locking the tomb door.”
The knaves were at work while he was speaking.
Patsy saw small but costly old paintings, boxes of gems and jade, the priceless Strad violin, then in its case—these and many other treasures Patsy saw brought out and laid upon the ground.
There was no delay over what followed, no argument about it, no sign of mercy in the eyes of either of his captors.
Patsy was rudely thrown to the ground and his legs securely bound.
Half a minute later he was lying in the box from which the treasures had been taken.
He heard the cover replaced, the massive key turned in the grating lock.
Three minutes later the wagon moved away with the four knaves and its load of treasures.[Pg 37]
Only Patsy Garvan remained.