"The lock on this private compartment at the top is broken," he remarked
after a moment.

"_Si, Señor_," the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently the robbers were not
content with only fifty thousand dollars in gold--they imagined that
something else of value was hidden there."

"Was there?" asked Mr. Grimm naively. He didn't look around.

"Nothing of monetary value," the señor explained. "There were some
important state papers in there--they are there yet--but no money."

"None of the papers was stolen?"

"No, Señor. There were only nine packets--they are there yet."

"Contents all right?"

"Yes. I personally looked them over."

Mr. Grimm drew out the packets of papers, one by one. They were all
unsealed save the last. When he reached for that, Señor Rodriguez made a
quick, involuntary motion toward it with his hand.

"This one's sealed," commented Mr. Grimm. "It doesn't happen that you
opened it and sealed it again?"

Señor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly for a moment, then some
sudden apprehension was aroused, for a startled look came into his eyes,
and again he reached for the packet.