"Yes! I must be off at once and learn exactly what has happened. I shall call at Scotland Yard——"
"Ssh!" whispered Vignoles. "There is no need for that! The man speaking to Miss Oppner there is Detective-Inspector Pepys!"
"Detective-Inspector Pepys! But what——"
"Never mind now, Megger; he is—that's the point. I'll bring him into the billiard-room. No doubt he can arrange to accompany you."
Too perturbed in mind to wonder greatly at the presence of a police officer at Lord Vignoles' dinner-table, Bernard Megger strode hurriedly into the billiard-room, his obese body quivering with his suppressed emotions, and was almost immediately joined by his host, accompanied by Pepys. The latter began at once:
"I understand that your chambers have been burgled by Séverac Bablon? By a curious instance of what literary critics term the long arm of coincidence I am in charge of the Séverac Bablon case—I and Inspector Sheffield."
"Before we go any further," said Megger rudely, "I don't share your tomfool ideas about the rogue!"
"No?" replied Pepys blandly. "Well, never mind. You must not suppose that, because of them, I am any less anxious to apprehend my man. Tell me, when was the burglary committed?"
"While Simons, my servant, was out on an errand. He returned to find the safe open—and empty. He immediately rang me up here."
"I believe you have already communicated with Scotland Yard in regard to Séverac Bablon?"