"Well, if that same black box is lost again, I can only say it is the oddest case I ever heard of. One would think the box had a demon inside it." "No, sergeant, you are wrong there. The demon's inside him that took it. Listen while I whisper something in your ear--that young Dene is over head and ears in debt: he has debts here, debts there, debts everywhere. For some little time now, as I chance to know, he has been at his very wits' end to think where or how he could pick up some money to satisfy the most pressing; fit to die of fear, lest they should travel to the knowledge of his uncle at Elm Farm." "_Is_ it so?" exclaimed Mr. Dutton, severely. And his face changed, and his opinion also. "Are you sure of this, sir?" "Well, my informant was my brother; so you may judge whether it is likely to be correct or not," said the captain. "But, if you think it best to make some inquiries at the house, come with me now and do so." They walked to Foregate together. The sergeant looked a little at the features of the parlour, where the loss had taken place, and heard what Miss Betty had to say, and questioned Susan. This did not help the suspicion thrown on Sam Dene, saving in one point--their joint testimony that he and the box were left alone in the room together. Mr. Cockermuth had gone out, so the sergeant did not see him: but, as he was not within doors when the loss occurred, he could not have aided the investigation in any way. "Well, Dutton, what do you think now?" asked Captain Cockermuth, strolling down the street with the sergeant when he departed. "I confess my visit has not helped me much," said Dutton, a slow-speaking man, given to be cautious. "If nobody entered the room between the time when Miss Cockermuth left it and you entered it, why then, sir, there's only young Dene to fall back upon." "I tell you nobody did enter it," cried the choleric captain; "or _could_, without my seeing them. I stood at the front-door. Ward was busy at the house that morning, dodging perpetually across the top of the passage, between the kitchen and brewhouse: he, too, is sure no stranger could have come in without being seen by him." "Did you see young Dene leave the room, sir?" "I did. Hearing somebody come out of the parlour, I looked round and saw it was young Dene with some papers in his hand. He went into the office for a minute or two, and then passed me, remarking, with all the impudence in life, that he was going to the town hall. He must have had my box in his pocket then." "A pity but you had gone into the parlour at once, captain," remarked the sergeant. "If only to put the box in safety--provided it was there." "But I thought it was safe. I thought my sister was there. I did go in almost directly." "And you never stirred from the door--from first to last?"