"This will just suit my complaint," observed Marsden, uncovering the eggs and bacon. "I was never a believer in working on an empty stomach, and I reckon Humphries here is pretty much of the same opinion."
"There were some sandwiches and whisky on the sideboard last night," said Colin. "I ought to have told you before I went to bed."
"Oh, we found them all right," returned Marsden with a smile. "And, for the matter of that, some very excellent cigars, too." He helped his companions to a generous portion each, and transferred the remainder to his own plate. "I only wish," he added grimly, "that we'd been equally successful in our professional discoveries."
"Have you any clue at all?" asked Colin.
"Depends on what you call a clue," was the answer. "I can tell you one thing for a certainty. Whoever broke into the house was an old hand at the game, and, what's more, a chap who knew his job from A to Z."
"Why do you think that?"
"Well, you're not likely to find an amateur burglar who can cut out a pane of glass without making a sound, nor yet one who wears gloves so as to hide his finger prints. Besides, no one but an expert cracksman could possibly have forced the lock of the safe."
"I didn't know it was forced," said Colin.
"One bolt had gone, anyhow; and a very neat bit of work it was, too, eh, Humphries?"
The sergeant, whose mouth was full, confined himself to an affirmative grunt.