rubbery it had been kept unlocked.
Somewhat unfairly, he cursed the parlourmaid, who, he assumed, was
doing his work, for "a suspicious ----."

Curiously enough he had no idea that his late colleagues were not in
the house. He believed them to be sleeping peacefully in the servants'
quarters. For considerately placing the pantry distant from these, it
might have been thought that the architect of the house would receive
Mr. Morgan's commendation. On the contrary, of his zeal appropriately
to execrate the former's memory, the ex-footman employed most
regrettable language, and this for the simple reason that the stone
sill of the pantry window projected rather farther from the wall than
Mr. Morgan, when in the act of lifting his knee, had believed to be the
case.

With the exception of this painful incident, his ingress had been
effected with the acme of ease. This was due to the foresight,
patience, and unremitting care with which he had severed the bars and
removed the spring of the window-catch during his last fortnight in Mr.
Bumble's employ.

After the refractory plate-chest had been made to disgorge, Mr. Morgan
had visited the drawing-room. By the time he had garnered what
precious metal was there, his two capacious bags had become extremely
heavy. So much so, that he almost regretted that he had not brought a
friend. The reflection, however, that to present a coadjutor with half
the proceeds of a robbery which his brain alone had conceived and made
possible, would undoubtedly have shortened his life, made him feel
better. Cautiously he made for the stairs and, guiding himself with
his torch, began to ascend.

There were some snuff-boxes in a cabinet which stood on the landing.
It was unthinkable that he should go without these. The piece was kept
locked, but he had often gazed at them through the glass. One of them
was of silver-gilt--possibly of gold. Mr. Morgan licked his thick lips.

It was upon the door of this cabinet, then, that, torch in mouth, he
was working feverishly. Time was getting on....

As if in answer to the subdued crack with which the door at length
yielded came the noise of the insertion of a key into the lock of the
front door. Mr. Morgan started violently, thrust his torch into a
pocket, and stood extremely still.

The door opened and the admitted moonlight showed him the entrance of
one--two feminine apparitions, followed by that of a man. For a moment
they stood in the