Mankell simply inclined his head.
"I suppose you know nothing about the locks of the other doors?"
Again the inclination of the head. The man seemed to be habitually chary of speech.
"What's the matter with you? Are you dumb? Can't you speak when you're spoken to?"
This time Mankell extended the palms of his hands with a gesture which might mean anything or nothing. The governor passed on. The round finished, he held a consultation with the chief warder.
"Have you any suspicions?"
"It's queer." Mr. Murray stroked his bristly chin.
"It's very queer that that man Mankell's should be the only cell in the prison left untampered with."
"Very queer, indeed."
"What are we to do? We can't leave the men locked up all day. It's breakfast-time already. I suppose the cooks haven't gone down to the cookhouse?"