“Certainly!  Anyone with a head on his shoulders would see at a glance that the things were valuable.”

The Detective’s face brightened.  “Then there is a chance.  If your door was locked and the window shut, the goods were not stolen by the chance of a chambermaid or a boots coming along.  Whoever did the job went after it special; and he ain’t going to part with his swag without his price.  This must be a case of notice to the pawnbrokers.  There’s one good thing about it, anyhow, that the hue and cry needn’t be given.  We needn’t tell Scotland Yard unless you like; we can work the thing privately.  If you wish to keep the thing dark, as you told me at the first, that is our chance.”  Mr. Corbeck, after a pause, said quietly: 

“I suppose you couldn’t hazard a suggestion as to how the robbery was effected?” The Policeman smiled the smile of knowledge and experience.

“In a very simple way, I have no doubt, sir.  That is how all these mysterious crimes turn out in the long-run.  The criminal knows his work and all the tricks of it; and he is always on the watch for chances.  Moreover, he knows by experience what these chances are likely to be, and how they usually come.  The other person is only careful; he doesn’t know all the tricks and pits that may be made for him, and by some little oversight or other he falls into the trap.  When we know all about this case, you will wonder that you did not see the method of it all along!” This seemed to annoy Mr. Corbeck a little; there was decided heat in his manner as he answered: 

“Look here, my good friend, there is not anything simple about this case—­except that the things were taken.  The window was closed; the fireplace was bricked up.  There is only one door to the room, and that I locked and bolted.  There is no transom; I have heard all about hotel robberies through the transom.  I never left my room in the night.  I looked at the things before going to bed; and I went to look at them again when I woke up.  If you can rig up any kind of simple robbery out of these facts you are a clever man.  That’s all I say; clever enough to go right away and get my things back.”  Miss Trelawny laid her hand upon his arm in a soothing way, and said quietly: 

“Do not distress yourself unnecessarily.  I am sure they will turn up.”  Sergeant Daw turned to her so quickly that I could not help remembering vividly his suspicions of her, already formed, as he said: 

“May I ask, miss, on what you base that opinion?”

I dreaded to hear her answer, given to ears already awake to suspicion; but it came to me as a new pain or shock all the same: 

“I cannot tell you how I know.  But I am sure of it!” The Detective looked at her for some seconds in silence, and then threw a quick glance at me.

Presently he had a little more conversation with Mr. Corbeck as to his own movements, the details of the hotel and the room, and the means of identifying the goods.  Then he went away to commence his inquiries, Mr. Corbeck impressing on him the necessity for secrecy lest the thief should get wind of his danger and destroy the lamps.  Mr. Corbeck promised, when going away to attend to various matters of his own business, to return early in the evening, and to stay in the house.