"Let's go then, at once."
"What, empty? Not me, eh, Dick?"
"'Taint likely. Wait till I've got two more cartridges in. That's it--
Now then, business."
"But this poor fellow?"
"He's not killed, only quieted. Now, then, what is there here?"
They made a hurried search of the room, but with the exception of the
silver tops of the bottles of the Colonel's dressing-case, there was
nothing to excite their cupidity. Then Capel's pockets were searched,
but watch and purse were in his chamber, while, though the Colonel's
room was full of costly objects, they were not of the portable nature
that would have made them valuable to the men.
"Now then," said the tall man, quickly, "it's of no use; we must go
down. Where are the keys?"
The little man took a bunch from the bag.
"But, suppose the old man's awake?" whispered the shivering ex-servant,
faint from his wound.
"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."
The light was played upon Capel's insensible face for a few moments, and
then, to the intense relief of the ex-servant, the lantern was placed in
the bag with the burglars' tools, and the window being thrown open, one
by one stole out, the last closing the window behind him, leaving Capel
lying helpless and insensible in the locked-up room.