The Grey Monk

by T. W. Speight

There was no difficulty about doing that, because the study door was never locked overnight, in order that the servants might have access to it betimes, their orders being to have it in readiness for Sir Gilbert by ten o’clock to the minute.

The room was empty when Luigi opened the door and went in, followed by his uncle. “That is the door of the strong room—iron, as you see—and this is the drawer in which the key of it is always kept,” said the former.

“And where is the key of the drawer kept?” queried the Captain. “It is one of a bunch grandfather carries about with him and rarely lets out of his own keeping.”

Verinder glanced at the door, then he tried the drawer, which, as a matter of course, was locked, and then he stooped and examined the keyhole.

“As far as I can judge,” he said, “the lock is of quite an ordinary kind, and you ought not to experience much difficulty in picking it.”

“But what will grandfather think when he finds the drawer unlocked?” questioned Luigi.

“Why, merely that he must have omitted to lock it overnight. Of course the key of the strong room will be there just as he left it, and there will be nothing to arouse his suspicions that it has even been touched. He will simply tell himself that he must be more careful in future, and there will be an end of the matter.”

It was too early for breakfast, so they left the house and went for a stroll in the grounds.

“I wish, Lewis, my boy,” remarked the Captain cheerfully, “you would try not to look quite so glum and down in the mouth. If you had a murder on your mind you could hardly look more wretched than you do. Do, for goodness sake, assume a cheerfulness; even if you can’t feel it—though what cause you have for being anything else than cheerful, I cannot for the life of me imagine.”

“Oh, I’m not like you; I haven’t nerves of cast iron; I wish I had,” retorted Luigi. “Be cheerful, indeed! It’s all very fine, but how is it possible for me to look other than down in the mouth when I remember the desperate business I’m booked to go through with three nights hence?”