ollings' knees knocked together.
Mr. Norcross was imposing enough, but the inspector was even worse; and
as for the senior partner of the firm--well, he was Mr. Christopher Mark
Antony Burton, third, arrayed in his most awful dignity. Even his son
trembled before him.

CHAPTER IV

AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE POLICE

"And so, Hollings," the great Mr. Burton began, "while your back was
turned, you have lost some of our valuable diamonds."

"My back was not turned, sir," objected Hollings. "I merely looked away
a minute."

"Long enough to give a pair of thieves the opportunity to work."

"It hardly seemed so."

"But it was."

"I'm afraid so, Mr. Burton. I am deeply sorry, sir; and yet had I it to
do over again I hardly see--"

"It wasn't his fault, Dad--indeed it wasn't. I saw the whole thing, you
know. It was done so fast you almost thought your eyes deceived you."

"Oh, the men were experts. There can be no questions about that!" cut in
the deep voice of the inspector. "Now, Mr. Burton, instead of wasting
time in reprimands, we've got to get down to facts. May I question these
people?"

"Certainly, certainly!" Mr. Burton, however, seemed to be taken aback at
being treated with such scant ceremony. "This is Mr. Hollings, the
clerk; and this lad is my son, Christopher."

"Very good! Now, Mr. Hollings, suppose you tell your tale first. Relate
exactly what happened--not what you thought or supposed. Stick to
facts."

"I will, sir."

In a trembling voice Hollings began his story, and as he recounted it,
Mr. Inspector jotted it down, merely pausing now and then to ask a curt
question.

"Can you describe the men?" inquired he, when the narrative was
finished.

"I'm afraid I can't, sir, beyond the fact that both of them wore raccoon
motoring coats, and kept their collars pretty well turned up. You see I
was far too much occupied with what they were saying to consider how
they looked."

"You could not identify them then?"

"Not positively--no, I regret to say I couldn't. I might possibly
recognize the hand or the voice of the big man."

"The one who tried on the rings?"

"Yes, sir."

"But you could not pick him out from a group of others or identify him
by photograph."

"No, I couldn't."

"That's a pity. In your work you should be more observing."

"I know I should. I will be in the future."

The inspector smiled grimly.

"We all lock the gate after the cows are out of the pasture," comment