"It would seem so. And yet, if no one has visited the place since the murder the thing is easily explained."
"How do you explain it?"
"Why, the murderers possibly entered through this coal-hole, and fastened the cover after them. If so, they went on to Margaret Ernst's basement, through the vault and the other tunnel. They killed the old woman, and, as a blind, filled up the entrance to the tunnel with ashes, which they found close by, and then escaped, probably through her back-yard."
"That's all very well so far as it goes, George; but, unfortunately for your theory, some one has visited that vault since the murder, and they have neither entered nor departed through Mrs. Ernst's basement."
"Thunder! how do you know that?"
"By means of a piece of to-day's newspaper, which I picked up in the vault."
"Well, sir, you've got me this time, sure."
"You admit, then, that there must be another entrance from this side?"
"Of course."
"Let us find it, then."