Markham stared at me dazedly.
"I have set down the experience in Chapter One of 'Forty Ways for Cracking Safes,'" I proceeded, "and one of the first of my ten rules for success in any safe-cracking job was this: Be sure that your kit is reliable, and without flaws."
"Mr. Munn, Mr. Munn!" whispered Markham hoarsely. "Think of the people from whom you have taken property dishonestly."
"I never think of them but to wish that I had been able to relieve them of more."
"This is awful!" muttered Markham. "You really exult over what you have done."
He would have started down the iron stairs had I not restrained him with a word.
"Let me ask you something, Mr. Markham," said I. "Last fall, bread went to ten cents a loaf because the wheat market was cornered—and a man by the name of Markham did the cornering. The people who had to put up that extra five cents missed it more than did those from whom I took five hundred dollars."
Markham coughed. "Any asteroids in sight?" he inquired absently.
"I wonder if you ever did any reflecting?" I asked tartly.
"What do you think of Quinn?" and Markham looked away as I took my eye from the telescope and gave him an expressive wink.