“In Mrs. Armitage’s case the taking of an inferior brooch and the leaving of a more valuable ring pointed clearly either to the operator being a fool or unable to distinguish values, and certainly, from other indications, the thief seemed no fool.  The door was locked, and the gas-fitter, so to speak, on guard, and the window was only eight or ten inches open and propped with a brush.  A human thief entering the window would have disturbed this arrangement, and would scarcely risk discovery by attempting to replace it, especially a thief in so great a hurry as to snatch the brooch up without unfastening the pin.  The bird could pass through the opening as it was, and would have to tear the pin-cushion to pull the brooch off, probably holding the cushion down with its claw the while.

“Now in yesterday’s case we had an alteration of conditions.  The window was shut and fastened, but the door was open—­but only left for a few minutes, during which time no sound was heard either of coming or going.  Was it not possible, then, that the thief was already in the room, in hiding, while Mrs. Cazenove was there, and seized its first opportunity on her temporary absence?  The room is full of draperies, hangings, and what not, allowing of plenty of concealment for a bird, and a bird could leave the place noiselessly and quickly.  That the whole scheme was strange mattered not at all.  Robberies presenting such unaccountable features must have been effected by strange means of one sort or another.  There was no improbability.  Consider how many hundreds of examples of infinitely higher degrees of bird-training are exhibited in the London streets every week for coppers.

“So that, on the whole, I felt pretty sure of my ground.  But before taking any definite steps I resolved to see if Polly could not be persuaded to exhibit his accomplishments to an indulgent stranger.  For that purpose I contrived to send Lloyd away again and have a quiet hour alone with his bird.  A piece of sugar, as everybody knows, is a good parrot bribe; but a walnut, split in half, is a better—­especially if the bird be used to it; so I got you to furnish me with both.  Polly was shy at first, but I generally get along very well with pets, and a little perseverance soon led to a complete private performance for my benefit.  Polly would take the match, mute as wax, jump on the table, pick up the brightest thing he could see, in a great hurry, leave the match behind, and scuttle away round the room; but at first wouldn’t give up the plunder to me.  It was enough.  I also took the liberty, as you know, of a general look round, and discovered that little collection of Brummagem rings and trinkets that you have just seen—­used in Polly’s education, no doubt.  When we sent Lloyd away, it struck me that he might as well be usefully employed as not, so I got him to fetch the police, deluding him a little, I fear, by talking about the servants and a female searcher.  There will be no trouble about evidence; he’ll confess.  Of that I’m sure.  I know the sort of man.  But I doubt if you’ll get Mrs. Cazenove’s brooch back.  You see, he has been to London to-day, and by this time the swag is probably broken up.”