“That won’t take long,” returned the detective. “After five more minutes, Nick, Clayton again appeared at the office inclosure and asked for Madame Escobar’s jewel case. He remarked to Vernon that the two singers wanted to compare some of their diamonds, and that both caskets would presently be returned. Vernon did not for a moment suspect anything wrong. Who on earth, as a matter of fact, would have suspected Clayton of anything crooked? Vernon brought the jewel case from the vault and Clayton departed with it.”
“And then?”
“He came out of his private office a few minutes later, entering the clerks’ inclosure.”
“You mean through the door between the two offices?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“But when he came after the jeweled caskets, or the first one, at least, he came from the other door, and through the corridor.”
“Exactly.”
“What followed?”
“Vernon asked, when Clayton entered the inclosure, if it would not be wise to have me keep an eye on Mademoiselle Falloni’s suite,” said Webber. “Clayton asked him for what reason. I was standing near enough to hear both. Vernon replied that something might happen to the two jewel caskets, since he, meaning Clayton, had left the women alone with them.”
“What did Clayton say to that?” Nick inquired.