“What precautions,” someone asked, “are being taken to guard the slipper?”
“Well,” Mostyn answered, “though we have only the bare word of the late Professor Deeping that the slipper was actually worn by Mohammed, it has certainly an enormous value according to Moslem ideas. There can be no doubt that a group of fanatics known as Hashishin are in London engaged in an extraordinary endeavour to recover it.”
Mostyn’s voice sank to an impressive whisper. My gaze sought again the tall Eastern visitor and was held fascinated by the baffled straining in those velvet eyes. But the lids fell as I looked; and the effect was that of a fire suddenly extinguished. I determined to draw Bristol’s attention to the man.
“Accordingly,” Mostyn continued, “we have placed it in this room, from which I fancy it would puzzle the most accomplished thief to remove it.”
The party, myself included, stared about the place, as he went on to explain—
“We have four large windows here; as you see. The Burton Room occupies the end of a wing; there is only one door; it communicates with the next room, which in turn opens into the main building by another door on the landing. We are on the first floor; these two east windows afford a view of the lawn before the main entrance; those two west ones face Orpington Square; all are heavily barred as you see. During the day there is a man always on duty in these two rooms. At night that communicating door is locked. Short of erecting a ladder in full view either of the Square or of Great Orchard Street, filing through four iron bars and breaking the window and the case, I fail to see how anybody can get at the slipper here.”
“If a duplicate key to the safe—” another voice struck in; I knew it afterward for that of Professor Rhys-Jenkyns.
“Impossible to procure one, Professor,” cried Mostyn, his eyes sparkling with an almost boyish interest. “Mr. Cavanagh here holds the keys of the case, under the will of the late Professor Deeping. They are of foreign workmanship and more than a little complicated.”
The eyes of the savants were turned now in my direction.
“I suppose you have them in a place of safety?” said Dr. Nicholson.