"Safe enough as long as I'm here," replied the other, between
grim jest and stout earnest. Raffles studied his face; he was
still watching Raffles; and I kept an eye on them both without
putting in my word.

"You appear to be single-handed," observed Raffles. "Is that
wise?"

The note of anxiety was capitally caught; it was at once
personal and public-spirited, that of the enthusiastic savant,
afraid for a national treasure which few appreciated as he did
himself. And, to be sure, the three of us now had this treasury
to ourselves; one or two others had been there when we entered;
but now they were gone.

"I'm not single-handed," said the officer, comfortably. "See
that seat by the door? One of the attendants sits there all day
long."

"Then where is he now?"

"Talking to another attendant just outside. If you listen
you'll hear them for yourself."

We listened, and we did hear them, but not just outside. In my
own mind I even questioned whether they were in the corridor
through which we had come; to me it sounded as though they were
just outside the corridor.

"You mean the fellow with the billiard-cue who was here when we