"Bah! coiners melt their stuff and electro-gild it. These are right enough, and there's a big sum of money in there. Here, to work at once; I must have that door back in its place and the front sealed up." His man shook his head, and while the superintendent was busy directing the workmen, the constable carefully examined the elaborate machinery, and came upon a couple of chests full of little ingots which seemed to be of the right size for rolling out and stamping into coin. "I know!" he muttered at last. "What do you know?" said the superintendent. "They must be South Africa people with a gold mine of their own, and to save trouble make up their own stuff into sovereigns. Here, I want to look at those poor chaps again." The superintendent seemed disposed to bid him let them be, but he was beginning to feel more and more confidence in his subordinate's brains, and together they flashed the light over the ghastly faces. "That's right," said the constable. "I know 'em well. It's the butler and footman from next door. I've often seen 'em." "Then I've got a theory now," said the superintendent, clapping his subordinate on the shoulder. "You're right, I think, about their coining their own gold, and they came back to town--you see, Dick, the people of the house were out of town." "Yes, been out some time. I know that." "Well, they came back, and caught these two chaps breaking into the way to their underground bank, and they treated them like burglars, and shot them. Then there was a row; that lady you talk about wouldn't stand it; you raised the alarm." "And they've sloped. Ah, we ought to have had them, sir." "Oh, we'll do it yet. They can't get away very far, my lad. Now then, what are you thinking about now?" "All those quids, sir. I'm sure I'm right now. Big swells like they were, as I've often seen, with tip-top carriages and horses, wouldn't coin their own gold even if they'd got a mine. They're a gang of coiners, sir, and so you'll see. Got one of the sovs., sir?" "No." "Then take one of those little bars, and have that examined." The superintendent picked up one of the ingots, looked at it intently and shook his head. "Ah, you can't tell by that, sir," said his subordinate. "I say, look, sir; they've had the electric light. I wonder where they turn it on." The place was soon found, the stud pressed, and about a dozen glass bulbs shed a beautifully soft light through the arched place. "Good gold; a big sum of money in ingots, my lad," said the inspector, jingling two bars together and producing a musical sound. "Here, stop! I must have all these in that strong closet before we go--and double my sentries," he muttered. "Why, there must be thousands of pounds' worth lying here." CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. A SHARP SHOCK.