Part 4 (1/2)

”You searched for the murderer, of course?” asked Bristol.

”You can see, sir,” replied the officer, ”that there isn't a spot in the room where a man could hide! And there was n.o.body in here when we forced the door!”

”Why!” cried my companion suddenly. ”The Professor has a chisel in his hand!”

”Yes. I think he must have been trying to prise open that box yonder when he was attacked.”

Bristol and I looked, together, at an oblong box which lay upon the floor near the murdered man. It was a kind of small packing case, addressed to Professor Deeping, and evidently had not been opened.

”When did this arrive?” asked Bristol. Lester, the Professor's man, who had entered the room, replied shakily--

”It came by carrier, sir, just before I went out.”

”Was he expecting it?”

”I don't think so.”

Inspector Bristol and the officer dragged the box fully into the light. It was some three feet long by one foot square, and solidly constructed.

”It is perfectly evident,” remarked Bristol, ”that the murderer stayed to search for--”

”The key of the safe!”

”Exactly. If the men really heard sounds here, it would appear that the a.s.sa.s.sin was still searching at that time.”

”I a.s.sure you,” the officer interrupted, ”that there was no living thing in the room when we entered.”

Bristol and I looked at one another in horrified wonder.

”It's incomprehensible!” he said.

”See if the key is in the place mentioned by the Professor, Mr.

Cavanagh, whilst I break the box.”

I went to a great, open bookcase, which the frantic searcher seemed to have overlooked. Removing the bulky ”a.s.syrian Mythology,” there, behind the volume, lay an envelope, containing a key, and a short letter. Not caring to approach more closely to the table and to that which lay beneath it, I was peering at the small writing, in the semi-gloom by the bookcase, when Bristol cried--

”This box is unopenable by ordinary means! I shall have to smash it!”

At his words, I joined him where he knelt on the floor.

Mysteriously, the chest had defied all his efforts.

”There's a pick-axe in the garden,” volunteered Lester. ”Shall I bring it?”

”Yes.”

The man ran off.

”I see the key is safe,” said Bristol. ”Possibly the letter may throw some light upon all this.”