CHAPTER VII

FIRST ATTEMPT ON THE SAFE


On the following morning I was awakened by the arrival of Bristol.
I hastened to admit him.

"Your visitor of yesterday," he began, "has wasted no time!"

"What has happened?"

He tugged irritably at his moustache. "I don't know!" he replied.
"Of course it was no surprise to find that there isn't a Mohammedan
who'll lay his little finger on Professor Deeping's safe! There's
no doubt in my mind that every lascar at the docks knows Hassan of
Aleppo to be in England. Some other arrangement will have to be
arrived at, if the thing is ever to be taken to the Antiquarian
Museum. Meanwhile we stand to lose it. Last night--"

He accepted a cigarette, and lighted it carefully.

"Last night," he resumed, "a member of P Division was on point
duty outside the late Professor's house, and two C.I.D. men were
actually in the room where the safe is. Result--someone has put
in at least an hour's work on the lock, but it proved too tough a
job!"