“I’m afraid,” Mr. Duke admitted despondently, “there was no secret about it. Gething knew, of course. He was entirely in my confidence about such matters. Vanderkemp, my outdoor man, knew that I had made some heavy purchases recently, as he not only conducted the negotiations, but personally brought the stones to the office. Besides, there were letters about them, accessible to all the staff. I am afraid you may take it that every one in the office knew there was a lot of stuff there, though probably not the exact amount.” “And the staff may have talked to outsiders. Young people will brag, especially if they are ‘keeping company,’ as the Irish say.” “I fear that is so,” Mr. Duke agreed, as if deprecating the singular habits of the young. The Inspector changed his position uneasily, and his hand stole to his pipe. But he checked himself and resumed his questioning. He obtained from Mr. Duke a detailed list of the missing stones, then turned to a new point. “About that thousand pounds in notes. I suppose you haven’t got the numbers?” “No, unfortunately. But the bank might know them.” “We shall inquire. Now, Mr. Duke, about the key. That is another singular thing.” “It is an amazing thing. I absolutely cannot understand where it came from. As I said, this one never leaves, nor has left, my personal possession, and the other, the _only_ other one, is equally inaccessible in my bank.” “You always personally opened or closed the safe?” “Always, or at least it was done by my instructions and in my presence.” “Oh, well, that is not quite the same thing, you know. Who has ever opened or closed it for you?” “Gething; and not once or twice, but scores, I suppose I might say hundreds of times. But always in my presence.” “I understand that, sir. Any one else besides Mr. Gething?” Mr. Duke hesitated. “No,” he said slowly, “no one else. He was the only one I trusted to that extent. And I had reason to trust him,” he added, with a touch of defiance. “Of course, sir. I recognise that,” French answered smoothly. “I am only trying to get the facts clear in my mind. I take it, then, that the deceased gentleman was the only person, other than yourself, who ever handled your key? It was not within reach of any one in your house; your servants, for example?” “No, I never let it lie about. Even at night I kept it attached to me.” The Inspector rose from his chair. “Well, sir,” he said politely, “I’m sorry to have kept you so long. Just let me take your finger prints to compare with those in the safe, and I have done. Shall I ring up for a taxi for you?” Mr. Duke looked at his watch. “Why, it is nearly one,” he exclaimed. “Yes, a taxi by all means, please.” Though Inspector French had said that everything possible had been done that night, he did not follow Mr. Duke from the building. Instead, he returned to the inner office and set himself unhurriedly to make a further and more thorough examination of its contents.