With this assent, Gratz hurried to the window, examined the sash, considered the sheer depths immediately below, its lack of vicinity to other windows, and last, the strong fastenings, to disturb which would involve a degree of rasp and wrench sufficient to disturb the slumbers of a Rip Van Winkle.
With a countenance as impassive as ever, he returned to Raikes and said:
With a grimace of reluctant acquiescence, Raikes, closely regarded by the detective, proceeded to the button in the concave, which he moved with slow manipulation for the edification of the alert watcher, who witnessed, without comment, the displacement of the register and the subsequent revelation of the inner compartment.
At the conclusion of this labor, this impenetrable being produced a small rod of steel from one of his pockets, one end of which concluded in a round knob.
With this he proceeded to rap the walls of the inner recess, a proceeding of which Raikes inquired the purpose.
"I want to ascertain," replied Gratz, "if there is any vacancy on the other side."
"I could have saved you all that trouble," replied Raikes. "This is a false radiator, the real flue is on the other side of the room.
"The rear of this small safe backs up against nearly two feet of solid brickwork.
"Exactly behind that is a room occupied by one no more burglarious than a dressmaker's apprentice."
"Thank you," replied Gratz. "Your information is helpful, but I am never satisfied to rely upon description when investigation is possible.
"Whatever deductions I make from this examination I do not want disturbed, so all the doubts they dissipate are not likely to intrude upon my calculations again."
After a few further taps, in which Raikes could see no better purpose than to retire from an embarrassing position with some show of satisfied motive, Gratz directed that the bags be returned.
For the next few minutes he busied himself with the locks, upon which he experimented with the extraordinary keys which Raikes had given him. He shot the bolts backward and forward; noted the stout bar and the precautions for keeping it in place, and then resumed the seat near the table.
"Tell me what has occurred to you between sunrise and sunset during the last three days."