Inspector.  Drawin’ the curtains back first?

De Levis.  Yes.

Inspector. [Sharply] Are you sure there was nobody in the room already?

De Levis. [Taken aback] I don’t know.  I never thought.  I didn’t look under the bed, if you mean that.

Inspector. [Jotting] Did not look under bed.  Did you look under it after the theft?

De Levis.  No.  I didn’t.

Inspector.  Ah!  Now, what did you do after you came back from your bath? 
Just give us that precisely.

De Levis.  Locked the door and left the key in.  Put back my sponge, and took off my dressing-gown and put it there. [He points to the footrails of the bed] Then I drew the curtains, again.

Inspector.  Shutting the window?

De Levis.  No.  I got into bed, felt for my watch to see the time.  My hand struck the pocket-book, and somehow it felt thinner.  I took it out, looked into it, and found the notes gone, and these shaving papers instead.

Inspector.  Let me have a look at those, sir. [He applies the spy-glasses] And then?

De Levis.  I think I just sat on the bed.

Inspector.  Thinkin’ and cursin’ a bit, I suppose.  Ye-es?

De Levis.  Then I put on my dressing-gown and went straight to Mr Winsor.

Inspector.  Not lockin’ the door?

De Levis.  No.

Inspector.  Exactly. [With a certain finality] Now, sir, what time did you come up?

De Levis.  About eleven.

Inspector.  Precise, if you can give it me.

De Levis.  Well, I know it was eleven-fifteen when I put my watch under my pillow, before I went to the bath, and I suppose I’d been about a quarter of an hour undressing.  I should say after eleven, if anything.

Inspector.  Just undressin’?  Didn’t look over your bettin’ book?

De Levis.  No.

Inspector.  No prayers or anything?

De Levis.  No.

Inspector.  Pretty slippy with your undressin’ as a rule?

De Levis.  Yes.  Say five past eleven.

Inspector.  Mr Winsor, what time did the gentleman come to you?

Winsor.  Half-past eleven.

Inspector.  How do you fix that, sir?

Winsor.  I’d just looked at the time, and told my wife to send her maid off.

Inspector.  Then we’ve got it fixed between 11.15 and 11.30. [Jots] Now, sir, before we go further I’d like to see your butler and the footman that valets this gentleman.

Winsor. [With distaste] Very well, Inspector; only—­my butler has been with us from a boy.