"Come back to the house, Coombes. Drive on, Rogers." "We had better get down, Sir Silas," suggested Mr Buckley. "I am sure that in this unfortunate trouble we do not want to thrust our company upon you." "There's no thrust about it. Stay where you are, Mr Buckley, and you, too, lads. Now, Atherton, you're a sharp lad. You've been jolly useful to me twice, and there's nothing like three for luck. Use your wits, and put your scouting abilities to the test." There was a constrained silence amongst the numerous servants as Sir Silas entered the hall of Polkerwyck House and led his youthful guests into the study. "The police will be here directly," he observed. "Meanwhile I'll have the butler in and see what he has to say." In a few minutes Tassh, dressed in his black suit, obsequiously entered the room. "What's all this I hear, Tassh?" asked the baronet. "Some of my silver gone, eh? Tell me about it." "I locked up last night, sir, as I always do. This morning when I came down at 7.30 the safe was open, and the silver, which you gave orders was to be placed there for safety, was missing. There were marks of a jemmy on the window-sash, and footprints on the flower-beds outside. I immediately told the housekeeper, and sent Williams on horseback to fetch the police." "H'm; have you made a list of what is missing?" "Not yet, sir; truth to tell I was so upset that I haven't recovered my normal self." "It would have been better if you had recovered my silver," remarked the baronet, grimly. "Or better still if you had taken steps to prevent the burglars from making their haul. How about the electric alarm?" Tassh hesitated before replying. "It must have been out of order, sir." "Then it was your place to see that it was in order, Tassh. You are quite sure you slept in the house last night? I remember I had to speak to you on one occasion for stopping at Padstow one night last winter." "I've never slept out of the house since you left, sir," said the butler, with conviction. Atherton and his companions exchanged glances. The cool, bold-faced audacity of the man to make a declaration like that when he had been the involuntary guest of the Scouts only the day before seemed too stupendous for words. "Very good, Tassh, you may go," said Sir Silas. "Ah, here is Coombes! Now, Coombes, let us hear what you know of the matter." "Precious little, sir, unfortunately. The front of the safe has been cut through with an electric drill. Here is the lock, sir. The window was forced, showing that the burglars entered that way, but the strange thing about it, sir, is that they must have left by some other way, since none of the footsteps lead away from the house." "There were two or more burglars?" "Undoubtedly, sir. The weight of the stolen stuff is too great for one man to carry."