Chapter 9

           Mr.Corbeckseemedtogoalmostoffhisheadattherecoveryofthelamps.Hetookthemuponebyoneandlookedthemallovertenderly,asthoughtheywerethingsthatheloved.Inhisdelightandexcitementhebreathedsohardthatitseemedalmostlikeacatpurring.SergeantDawsaidquietly,hisvoicebreakingthesilencelikeadiscordinamelody:

           "Areyouquitesurethoselampsaretheonesyouhad,andthatwerestolen?"

           Hisanswerwasinanindignanttone:"Sure!OfcourseI’msure.Thereisn’tanothersetoflampsliketheseintheworld!"

           "Sofarasyouknow!"TheDetective’swordsweresmoothenough,buthismannerwassoexasperatingthatIwassurehehadsomemotiveinit;soIwaitedinsilence.Hewenton:

           "OfcoursetheremaybesomeintheBritishMuseum;orMr.Trelawnymayhavehadthesealready.There’snothingnewunderthesun,youknow,Mr.Corbeck;noteveninEgypt.Thesemaybetheoriginals,andyoursmayhavebeenthecopies.Arethereanypointsbywhichyoucanidentifytheseasyours?"

           Mr.Corbeckwasreallyangrybythistime.