Tales of Terror and Mystery

           "

           Thecolourbegantocomebacktomypoorfriend’sfrightenedface,andhedrewalongbreathofrelief.

           "ThankGod!"hecried."Thenwhatintheworlddidthethiefwant?"

           "Probablyhemeanttotakethestones,butwasinterrupted."

           "Inthatcaseonewouldexpecthimtotakethemoutoneatatime,butthesettingofeachofthesehasbeenloosened,andyetthestonesareallhere."

           "Itiscertainlymostextraordinary,"saidtheinspector."Ineverrememberacaselikeit.Letusseethewatchman."

           Thecommissionairewascalled—asoldierly,honest-facedman,whoseemedasconcernedasWardMortimerattheincident.

           "No,sir,Ineverheardasound,"heanswered,inreplytothequestionsoftheinspector."Imademyroundsfourtimes,asusual,butIsawnothingsuspicious.I’vebeeninmypositiontenyears,butnothingofthekindhaseveroccurredbefore."

           "Nothiefcouldhavecomethroughthewindows?"

           "Impossible,sir."

           "Orpassedyouatthedoor?"

           "No,sir;IneverleftmypostexceptwhenIwalkedmyrounds."

           "Whatotheropeningsarethereinthemuseum?"

           "ThereisthedoorintoMr.WardMortimer’sprivaterooms."

           "Thatislockedatnight,"myfriendexplained,"andinordertoreachitanyonefromthestreetwouldhavetoopentheoutsidedooraswell."

           "Yourservants?"

           "Theirquartersareentirelyseparate."

           "Well,well,"saidtheinspector,"thisiscertainlyveryobscure.However,therehasbeennoharmdone,accordingtoMr.Purvis."

           "Iwillswearthatthosestonesaregenuine."

           "Sothatthecaseappearstobemerelyoneofmaliciousdamage.