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"No need," Triffitt hastened to say. "I've a cold meat pie, uncut, and plenty of bread, and cheese. And there's bottled ale, and whisky, and I'll get you some supper ready at once. So" he went on, as he began to bustle about "you did find something?" Davidge rubbed his hands and winked first at Milsey and then at Triffitt. "Wait till tomorrow!" he said.
Eight o'clock came and went nine o'clock, ten o'clock followed and sped into the past, and they were still there. It was drawing near to eleven, and they had been in those rooms well over three hours, when a slight sound came at Triffitt's window and Davidge put his head in, to be presently followed by Milsey. Milsey looked as innocent as ever, but it seemed to Triffitt that Davidge looked grave.
Milsey snapped open the lid of his case, and revealed, instead of spoon or fork or knife a number of shining keys, of all sorts and sizes and strange patterns, all of delicate make and of evidently superior workmanship. He pushed the case across the table to the corner at which Triffitt was sitting, and Davidge regarded it fondly in transit. "Pretty things, ain't they?" he said.
Now we'll just let Jim there go outside with his apparatus, and we'll lock your balcony door on him, and then see if he finds any difficulty in getting in. To it, Jim!" Mr. Milsey, thus adjured, went out on the balcony with his little case and was duly locked out. Within two minutes he opened the door and stepped in with a satisfied grin. "Easy as winking!" said Mr. Milsey.
"Very kind of you," replied Davidge. "A slight amount of the liquid'll do us no harm, but no cigars, thank you, Mr. Triffitt. Cigars are apt to leave a scent, an odour, about one's clothes, however careful you may be, and we don't want to leave any traces of our presence where we're going, do we, Jim?" "Not much," assented Mr. Milsey, laconically. "Wouldn't do."
"Good workmanship there! There's not very much that you could lock up in the ordinary way of drawers, boxes, desks, and so on that Milsey there couldn't get into with the help of one or other of those little friends what, Jim?" "Nothing! always excepting a safe," assented Mr. Milsey.
I don't propose to lose sight of him after he returns here tonight until he goes to that office what happens after he's once there, you shall see. So Milsey and I'll just have to trouble you to let me stop here for the night. You can go to your bed, of course we'll sit up. I'll send Milsey out to buy a bit of supper for us I dare say he'll find something open close by."
"Friend of mine Mr. Milsey. You'll excuse the liberty, I'm sure." "Glad to see both of you," answered Triffitt, cordially. He led the way into his sitting-room, drew chairs forward, and produced refreshments which he had carefully laid in during the afternoon in preparation. "Drop of whisky and soda, gentlemen?" he said, hospitably. "Let me help you. Will you try a cigar?"
Milsey, who, during this conversation, had mechanically sipped at his whisky and soda and reflectively gazed at the various pictures with which the absent Mr.
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