'All right, man of many felonies. You're quite justified in resenting the criticism of the amateur. I was only telling you what was my own idea. Only do be quick and illustrate the handiness of which you bragged.'
He strolled towards the door which was on the opposite side of the room, the one through which the ladies had vanished. He softly tried the handle; it still was locked. Taking the cigarette from between his lips, he inclined his ear towards the panel and listened.
'They're quiet. I suppose they're in her room. I wonder what they're doing? Problem for the papers which give prizes for puzzles. Under the circumstances, what might they be expected to be doing? Odds on that they're doing something else. One might easily see. It wouldn't take long to cut a piece out of this panel, or, for the matter of that, to take the lock itself clean off. But would it be worth one's while? They've seen enough. Ye whales and little fishes, they've seen too much! Better carry the thing to a conclusion without unnecessary witnesses. If they're content, we are. What's up now?'
The question was prompted by an exclamation which came from Miss Bewicke's bedroom. Mr Cox appeared at the entrance.
'Burton, you said that all we wanted was the ruby; that the rest of her things should go untouched.'
'Well?'
'The Flyman's pocketing her jewels.'
Mr Burton crossed the floor.
'That won't do, Flyman. We're here on an expedition of right. We're not thieves.'
'You said yourself we might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.'