“So she arose, took up the candle, and walked toward the door. Every step plainly said that she had given up the fight, that she had no further hope. Almost in the doorway, she blew the candle out. I naturally supposed that she went on; instead, she darted behind something in the office,--there were lots of things that would screen her,--and so waited until I had found what she appeared to want so badly.” “Clever!” exclaimed Webster, emphatically. “She has nerve, too. Not one girl in a thousand could think so clearly under such circumstances. Do you know, I’m almost sorry that she was caught.” “It does seem rather provoking.” “And this young man, Forrester, was on the premises all the time. I suppose he was a guest, and was hidden away much after your own style.” “I shouldn’t wonder.” “But old Farbush was the wise fox, eh? He suspected something and probably was lying in wait.” “I suppose so.” “And it’s more than likely that the coveted packet immediately passed back into his hands when he confronted the pair in front of the rifled safe.” Kenyon muttered a reply that was not intelligible. He was drawing steadily at his cigar, holding it clinched between his teeth, and frowning thoughtfully. Webster had noticed his replies being rather brief and absent for the last few minutes, and said: “What’s the new one, Ken; you might as well tell it all. You can’t surprise me any more than you have already done.” “I was thinking that, on the whole, I would have done a great deal better if I had waited awhile before leaving Farbush’s house.” “But why? You might have been caught.” “Of course; I would have been taking a chance. But, then, what else had I been doing during the entire night.” “Well, that’s true. But what do you suppose a little lingering on the scene would have brought you?” “It might have confirmed a suspicion that I’ve had ever since. And that is, that Anna and Forrester met with the surprise of their lives when the office lights were turned on and they saw the safe broken open.” “But, great Cæsar! Ken; how could that be. The girl, according to your own reasoning, saw you crack the safe.” “Don’t go too fast, old chap; I didn’t say so. I didn’t mention any names; for I’m not altogether sure that it was Anna who was in the office with me. The girl who snatched the packet wore a heavy cloak and a hood; Anna was in white when I saw her a moment later as she stood beside Forrester in the lower hall.” “But she might have thrown the cloak off.” “Then it would have been upon the stairs, and I would have seen it. She had not time to dispose of it in any other way, even had there been a reason for it. From the time that the light was switched off in the office, until it was turned on in the hall below, was only a moment.” “But you heard the footsteps on the stairs--and there was only one girl below.”