Leo conducted the visitors to this room. It was possible, if the robber had changed his clothes there, that he had left something which might afford some clew to his identity. The detective searched the chamber, but not very carefully. As he did so, he told Leo that he desired to clear him from any connection with the crime.
"I hadn't anything to do with it, and I don't know anything about the man," replied Leo, blushing deeply.
"I don't think you had, my boy," added the officer, candidly. "But this man may have hidden something in the house, without your knowledge."
"I hope you will find it if he did. You may search the house from cellar to garret, if you like; but he didn't go into any room but this one."
"How long was he in this room?"
"Not more than twenty minutes, I guess; I don't know."
"Where were you while he was here?"
"I was down cellar."
"Down cellar!" exclaimed Mr. Checkynshaw. "All the time he was in the room?"
"Yes, sir."