It was ten o'clock by the time they had reached the wharf, and
half-past ten before their hammering on the gate aroused the attention
of the night-watchman--who was also the day-watchman--who occupied what
had been in former days the weigh-house, which he had converted into a
weatherproof lodging.
"Hullo!" he said huskily. "I was asleep."
He recognized Mr. Sole, and led the way to his little bunk-house.
"Look here, Tester," said Sole, who had appointed the man, "did a young
swell come down here to-day?"
"He did," said Mr. Tester, "and a young lady. They gave Mr. Staines's
name, and asked to be showed round, and," he added, "I showed 'em
round."
"Well, what happened?" asked Staines.
"Well," said the man, "I took 'em in the factory, in the big building,
and then this young fellow asked to see the place where the metal was
kept."
"What metal?" asked three voices at one and the same time.
"That's what I asked," said Mr. Tester, with satisfaction. "I told 'em
Stivvins dealt with all kinds of metal, so the gent says: 'What about
gold?'"
"What about gold?" repeated Mr. Staines thoughtfully. "And what did
you say?"
"Well, as a matter of fact," explained Tester, "I happen to know this
place, living in the neighbourhood, and I used to work here about eight
years ago, so I took 'em down to the vault."
"To the vault?" said Mr. Staines. "I didn't know there was a vault."
"It's under the main office. You must have seen the place," said
Tester. "There's a big steel door with a key in it--at least, there
was a key in it, but this young fellow took it away with him."
Staines gripped his nearest companion in sin, and demanded huskily: "Did they find anything in--in the vault?"
"Blessed if I know!" said the cheerful Tester, never dreaming that he
was falling very short of the faith which at that moment, and only at
that moment, had been reposed in him. "They just went in. I've never
been inside the place myself."
"And you stood outside, like a--a----"
"Blinking image!" said the explosive companion.
"You stood outside like a blinking image, and didn't attempt to go in,
and see what they were looking at?" said Mr. Staines heatedly. "How
long were they there?"