"Then will anyone explain how any thief could effect an entrance, pull a heavy steamer trunk out from under a bed, get at the bag, cut a slit in its side, extract the leather case--_and_ the collar, to be sure--replace the bag, replace the trunk, leave the stateroom and lock the door, all in five short minutes--and without any key?" Iff wound up triumphantly: "I tell you, it couldn't be done; it ain't human." "But a skeleton-key--" Manvers began. "O you!" said Iff with a withering glance. "The door to Miss Landis' suite opens directly opposite the head of the main companionway, which is in constant use--people going up and down all the time. Can you see anybody, however expert, picking a lock with a bunch of skeleton-keys in that exposed position without being caught red-handed? Not on your vivid imagination, young man." "There may, however, be duplicate keys to the staterooms," Alison countered. "My dear lady," said Iff, humbly, "there are; and unless this ship differs radically from others, those duplicate keys are all in the purser's care. Am I right, Mr. Manvers?" "Yes," said Manvers sullenly. "And here's another point," resumed Iff. "May I ask you a question or two, Miss Landis?" Alison nodded curtly. "You kept the handbag locked, I presume?" "Certainly." "And when you found it had been tampered with, did you unlock it?" "There wasn't any need," said Alison. "You can see for yourself the opening in the side is so large--" "Then you didn't unlock it?" "No." "That only makes it the more mysterious. Because, you see, it's unlocked now." There was a concerted movement of astonishment. "How do you make that out, sir?" demanded the captain. "You can see for yourself (to borrow Miss Landis' phrase) if you'll only use your eyes, as I have. The side clasps are in place, all right, but the slide on the lock itself is pushed a trifle to the left; which it couldn't be if the bag were locked." There was a hint of derision in the little man's voice; and his sarcastic smile was flickering round his thin lips as he put out one hand, drew the bag to him, lifted the clasps, and pushing back the lock-slide, opened it wide. "The thot plickens," he observed gravely. "For my part I am unable to imagine any bold and enterprising crook taking the trouble to cut open this bag when the most casual examination would have shown him that it wasn't locked." "He might 've done it as a blind...." Manvers suggested. "Officer!" piped Iff in a plaintive voice--"he's in again." The purser, colouring to the temples, took a step toward the little man, his hands twitching, but at a gesture from the captain paused, controlled himself and fell back. For a few moments there was quiet in the cabin, while those present digested Iff's conclusions and acknowledged their logic irrefragable. Staff caught Alison staring at the man as if fascinated, with a curious, intense look in her eyes the significance of which he could not fathom.