extra Yale locks, at an unlikely height, not to be discovered by one
within the room. It had been the butler's business to turn and to
collect all these keys before retiring for the night. But the key
of the safe in the study was supposed to be in the jealous keeping
of the master of the house himself. That safe was in its turn so
ingeniously hidden that I never should have found it for myself. I
well remember how one who showed it to me (in the innocence of her
heart) laughed as she assured me that even her little trinkets were
solemnly locked up in it every night. It had been let into the wall
behind one end of the book-case, expressly to preserve the barbaric
splendor of Mrs. Carruthers; without a doubt these Lochmabens would
use it for the same purpose; and in the altered circumstances I had
no hesitation in giving Raffles all the information he desired. I
even drew him a rough plan of the ground-floor on the back of my
menu-card.

"It was rather clever of you to notice the kind of locks on the
inner doors," he remarked as he put it in his pocket. "I suppose you
don't remember if it was a Yale on the front door as well?"

"It was not," I was able to answer quite promptly. "I happen to know
because I once had the key when - when we went to a theatre together."

"Thank you, old chap," said Raffles sympathetically. "That's all I
shall want from you, Bunny, my boy. There's no night like to-night!"

It was one of his sayings when bent upon his worst. I looked at him
aghast. Our cigars were just in blast, yet already he was signalling
for his bill. It was impossible to remonstrate with him until we
were both outside in the street.