Appearing to be no more than half satisfied, he returned to the others and for an hour they discussed various points such as Haworth’s wishes regarding future payments, the taking of the machine the next day by the trucking firm, and the actual time of what was referred to by them as “delivery of the goods.” These things settled, Pentecost expressed the wish to take a look around the basement. Haworth went with him to the place where the planked-up room had been. Not only was it no longer there, but no evidence existed of its having been there. The timbers and flooring above the place where it had been built in showed no nail marks or abrasions of any kind and were grimy and darkened by age. Having examined the place and its vicinity with the utmost care, using for this the small electric torch he always carried, Pentecost led the way into what had been the machine shop, and closed the door. There he went over several important matters which he preferred to discuss with Haworth alone. They conversed earnestly for a while, and then left the basement together by the door opening to stone steps leading up to the grounds at the rear of the house. Mr. Pentecost made a surreptitious examination of this door and the route by which they reached it, while Haworth was setting the lamp on the cellar stairs, after extinguishing it. The two then went out to the old barn not far in the rear, and looked about there for a while. After that they went toward the house again. Haworth had been carrying the big bunch of money in his clothes all this while, part in one pocket and part in another, and Pentecost, appearing to notice this for the first time, begged him to go in and put it somewhere where it would be safe. He said he’d walk about a bit for the air and would be with him in a few minutes. So Haworth left him and went in. Pentecost now gave the house (outside) and its surroundings his full attention, especially as to the windows of the room on the left with their vine-covered shutters, and the character of the ground and shrubbery beneath them. It took him but a few moments to get all the information he needed as to the walls and foundation and roof overhang, together with other details that might come in, and lastly he took a look at the great elm trees in front and the “lay” of the ground in the rear. He reëntered the house by the basement door through which he and Haworth had come out, and James Dreek was waiting for him in a corner of the cellar. “Old woman?” Pentecost asked in a whisper. “Outside,” was the answer. “Watches all day from a distance. Nights in the bushes close under the side windows.” “We can use her!” And he gave Dreek whispered directions, after which he rejoined the others in the room on the left.