"Well, if he is, we must persuade him to go to sleep, somehow, till we've done. Here, you come and hold the light while I hand him the keys." The trembling man took the lantern, while his leader went down on one knee; and as his little companion handed him false keys and picklocks, he busied himself trying to open the door. "Keep that light still, will you?" he cried menacingly. "Why, you're making it dance all over the door. I want it on the key-hole, don't I?" Then the light shone full on the lock for a minute or two, not more, for he who held it kept turning his head to see if Capel was moving. This brought forth a torrent of whispered oaths from both men. "Here, let me have a try," whispered the little man. "I can open it if you'll hold this blessed glim still. I never see such a cur." Then, in the coolest manner possible, he took the other's place, and tried key after key, picklock after picklock, and ended by throwing all into the bag with a growl of disgust. "It's one of them stoopid patents," he cried. "Here, give us a james." A strong steel crowbar in two pieces was screwed together, and its sharp edge inserted between the door and the post, but the great, solid mahogany door stood firm, only emitting now and then a loud crack, sharp as that given by a cart whip, as the men strained at it in turn. "Here, let's try a saw. Centre-bit!" A centre-bit was fitted into a stock, and a hole cut right through. Into this, after much greasing, a key-hole saw was thrust, and, not without emitting a loud noise, the work of cutting began, the sawdust falling lightly on the lion's skin; but at the end of a few seconds a dull, harsh sound told that the saw was meeting metal, and a fresh start had to be made. For fully two hours did the men work to get through, boring and sawing in place after place, but always to find that the door was strengthened in all directions with metal plates; and at last the task was given up. "Look here," growled the leader of the party, "that bed isn't used. I want to know how that chap got in. He hasn't any key." "Can't you get the door open, then?" said the third man, after the other had shaken his head. "Why, don't you see we can't?" "But we shall get nothing for our trouble." "Nothing at all," said the tall man, quietly. "But--" "There, that'll do. First of all, you were so precious anxious to go. Now you know we can't get down, you're all for the job. I say, is this the room where the murder was?" "Yes; don't talk about it." "Why not? We haven't done another. He'll come round." "What next, Dick?" "Cut," was the laconic reply. "When there's all that plate asking of us to make up a small parcel and carry it away?" "Don't patter. Got all the tools?" "Yes." "Then come along."