The box indicated was one of ordinary thin sheet iron, japanned
black--something like what is called a deed box.

"The padlock has been broken open, I see," Hewitt observed.

"Yes, but I did that myself this morning. It had been blocked up in some
way, so that the key wouldn't turn--doubtless in order to cause delay
when next the box should come to be opened. As it was I might have
desisted and put off opening it till later, but I had a reason for
wishing to refer at once to a list which was in the box, and so I
decided to break the padlock. It was more difficult than one might
expect, with such a small padlock."

"And then you discovered your loss?"

"Then I discovered the loss, Mr. Hewitt, though it was a mere chance
even then. For see! All the bonds have not been taken, and those left
are placed on the top, while the space below is filled with dummies. I
hardly know why I turned them over--for the list was at the top--but I
did, and then----" Mr. Bell finished with a despairing gesture.

"And this was some time this morning?"

"At about half-past eleven."

"And when did you last open the box before that?"

"Ten days ago at least, I should think--and even then the bonds may have
been gone, for I only opened it to refer to the same list, and I
examined nothing else."

"You say that some bonds are left and others are gone. I presume those
taken are such as would be easy to negotiate, and those left are such as
would be difficult. Is that the fact?"

"Precisely."

"Then the thief evidently knows the ropes, and altogether the matter
would seem awkward. For anything short of ten days, you see, and quite
possibly for even a longer time than that, these bonds have been in the
undisturbed possession of some person who could easily dispose of them,
and would certainly do so without a moment's delay."

Mr. Bell nodded sadly. "Quite true," he said.

"But now tell me a little more. You say you yourself keep the only key
of the padlock, as well as the key of the safe. So that you open the
safe every morning yourself and close it at night?"

"Just so."

"And do you never entrust the keys to anybody else?"

"The key of the safe is on a separate bunch from the key of the box.
This second bunch, with the key of the box, is _always_ in my pocket,
and not a soul else ever touches it. The other bunch, with the outer
key of the safe, I sometimes hand to my partner, or to the head clerk,
Mr. Foster, if something is want