"I would," Mr. Wickstead answered with deliberation.
Quarles and I then went to examine the strong-rooms, which were empty now, the securities having been removed to other rooms.
A constable was on duty in the passage leading to them, and materials lying about showed that the work of fitting new doors was to commence at once. Quarles put on a particularly heavy pair of spectacles and produced a high-power pocket lens as well. He examined the locks and hinges of the ruined doors, and the various bolts which were thrown by the action of the turning keys. He carefully scanned the marks and the ruin which the explosion had made, and also the steel-bound holes into which the bolts fitted when the doors were fastened. Both the inner and the outer strong-rooms were examined with the same close scrutiny, and I pointed out to him the spot where the porter, Coulsdon, had been found, and where the rifled deed boxes had stood.
"Had the boxes been blown open?"
"No; forced open," I answered.
"I am not sure what explosive was used upon the doors, Wigan—gelignite or some similar preparation, I suppose—but it was powerful and peculiar in its action. How about finger-prints?"
"There were none on the doors. Either the explosion destroyed all trace or the men wore gloves."
"I suppose men of an expert gang would take that precaution?"
"They would be likely to think of everything."
"Yes; but since the gang is entirely unknown at Scotland Yard, that might be considered an unnecessary precaution, eh?"