"That has the same effect," he explained. "The water is pumped at a pressure into the hollow walls of the safe. The door is also hollow. When the water runs out, a float drops and releases the contents of the upper chamber. In the case of the door, the float operates the same spring that floods the safe when the handle is turned." Steppe scratched his head. "Perfect," he said. "You have experimented with the acid?" Sault nodded. "Both with sulphuric and hydrochloric," he said. "I think hydrochloric is the better." Steppe turned to the Greek. "You had better keep it here," he said, and then: "Will it be ready today? I want to get those Brakpan letters out of the way. I needn't tell you, Sault, that the code word must be known only to us three, huh? I don't mind your knowing--but, you, Moropulos! You have got to cut out absinthe--d'ye hear? Cut it out--right out!" His growl became a roar that shook the room and Moropulos quailed. "It is cut out," he said sulkily. "I am confining my boozing to the 'Parthenon'. I've got to have some amusement." "You have it, if all I hear is true," said Steppe grimly. "Give Sault a hundred, Moropulos. It is worth it. What do you do with your money, Sault? You don't spend it on fine clothes, huh?" "He goes about doing good," said Moropulos, with a good-natured sneer. "I met him in Kensington Gardens the other day, wheeling an interesting invalid. Who was she, Sault?" "My landlady's daughter," replied the other shortly. "No business of yours, anyhow," growled Steppe. "You've met Miss Merville, huh? Nice lady?" "Yes, a very nice lady," said Sault steadily. He pushed back his long gray hair from his forehead. "Pretty, huh?" Sault nodded and was glad when his employer had departed. "Steppe is gone on that girl," said Moropulos. "He'd have brained you, if you had said she wasn't pretty!" "He wouldn't have brained me," said Sault quietly. "I suppose he wouldn't. Even Steppe would have thought twice about lifting his hand to you. He's a brute though, I saw him smash a man in the face once for calling him a liar--at a directors' meeting. It was an hour before the poor devil knew what had happened. Yes, she is pretty. I see her riding some mornings, a young Diana--delicious. I'd give a lot to be in Steppe's shoes." "Why?" Moropulos rolled a cigarette with extraordinary rapidity and lit it. "Why? Well, if he wants her, he'll have her. Steppe is that kind. I don't suppose the doctor would have much to say in the matter. Or she, either." Sault picked up an iron bar from the table. It was one of four that he had brought for the purpose of strengthening the safe, and it was nearly an inch in diameter. "I think she would have something to say," he said, weighing the bar on the palms of his hands. And then, to the Greek's amazement, he bent the steel into a V. He used no apparent effort; the bar just changed its shape in his hands as though it had been made of lead.