"Extremely clever. We have a curious rogue to deal with, the motive obscure. There's a very strange mental twist somewhere."
"And we're no nearer a solution of the problem," I said.
"Anyway, we'll visit the bank again to-morrow. Eleven o'clock, Wigan. Until then I want to be alone. Good night!"
We could not see Mr. Wickstead at once when we went to the bank next day, and although the general manager apologized for keeping us waiting, he was evidently very busy, and wanted to be rid of us as quickly as possible.
"I'm afraid you don't make much progress," he said. "My directors are beginning to say that the publicity is worse than the loss."
"We go slowly," I answered; "but for the general safety publicity is necessary in an affair of this kind."
"We will not detain you," said Quarles. "I can see we have come at an inconvenient time. Just one question. Had the locks of the strong-room doors been repaired recently?"
"No. They were in excellent order."
"It has not even been necessary to have new keys made?"
"No."