"Yes, but I did that myself this morning. It had been blocked up in some way, so that the key wouldn't turn--doubtless in order to cause delay when next the box should come to be opened. As it was I might have desisted and put off opening it till later, but I had a reason for wishing to refer at once to a list which was in the box, and so I decided to break the padlock. It was more difficult than one might expect, with such a small padlock." "And then you discovered your loss?" "Then I discovered the loss, Mr. Hewitt, though it was a mere chance even then. For see! All the bonds have not been taken, and those left are placed on the top, while the space below is filled with dummies. I hardly know why I turned them over--for the list was at the top--but I did, and then----" Mr. Bell finished with a despairing gesture. "And this was some time this morning?" "At about half-past eleven." "And when did you last open the box before that?" "Ten days ago at least, I should think--and even then the bonds may have been gone, for I only opened it to refer to the same list, and I examined nothing else." "You say that some bonds are left and others are gone. I presume those taken are such as would be easy to negotiate, and those left are such as would be difficult. Is that the fact?" "Precisely." "Then the thief evidently knows the ropes, and altogether the matter would seem awkward. For anything short of ten days, you see, and quite possibly for even a longer time than that, these bonds have been in the undisturbed possession of some person who could easily dispose of them, and would certainly do so without a moment's delay." Mr. Bell nodded sadly. "Quite true," he said. "But now tell me a little more. You say you yourself keep the only key of the padlock, as well as the key of the safe. So that you open the safe every morning yourself and close it at night?" "Just so." "And do you never entrust the keys to anybody else?" "The key of the safe is on a separate bunch from the key of the box. This second bunch, with the key of the box, is _always_ in my pocket, and not a soul else ever touches it. The other bunch, with the outer key of the safe, I sometimes hand to my partner, or to the head clerk, Mr. Foster, if something is wanted from the safe when I am busy. Though, as a rule, the safe door is open so long as I am about the place. Nothing but the books can be taken out without the use of other keys for the drawers and boxes, which I keep on the private bunch." "And would it be possible for anybody--anybody at all, mind--to get at that private bunch of keys in such a way, for instance, as to be able to take a wax impression of the key of that bond-box?" "No, certainly not," Mr. Bell answered with decision. "Certainly not. At any rate, not in this office," he added. "Ah, not in this office. Anywhere else?"