Winsor.  Miss Orme was; Captain Dancy not.

Inspector.  Do they know of the affair?

Winsor.  Yes.

Inspector.  Well, I’d just like the keys of their doors for a minute.  My man will get them.

     He goes to the door, opens it, and speaks to a constable in the
     corridor.

[To Treisure] You can go with him.

     Treisure goes Out.

In the meantime I’ll just examine the balcony.

     He goes out on the balcony, followed by de Levis.

Winsor. [To Canynge] Damn De Levis and his money!  It’s deuced invidious, all this, General.

Canynge.  The Inspector’s no earthly.

     There is a simultaneous re-entry of the inspector from the balcony
     and of Treisure and the constable from the corridor.

Constable. [Handing key] Room on the left, Sir. [Handing key] Room on the right, sir.

     The inspector tries the keys in the door, watched with tension by
     the others.  The keys fail.

Inspector.  Put them back.

     Hands keys to constable, who goes out, followed by Treisure.

I’ll have to try every key in the house, sir.

Winsor.  Inspector, do you really think it necessary to disturb the whole house and knock up all my guests?  It’s most disagreeable, all this, you know.  The loss of the money is not such a great matter.  Mr De Levis has a very large income.

Canynge.  You could get the numbers of the notes from Kentman the bookmaker, Inspector; he’ll probably have the big ones, anyway.

Inspector. [Shaking his head] A bookie.  I don’t suppose he will, sir.  It’s come and go with them, all the time.

Winsor.  We don’t want a Meldon Court scandal, Inspector.

Inspector.  Well, Mr Winsor, I’ve formed my theory.

     As he speaks, de Levis comes in from the balcony.

And I don’t say to try the keys is necessary to it; but strictly, I ought to exhaust the possibilities.

Winsor.  What do you say, De Levis?  D’you want everybody in the house knocked up so that their keys can be tried?

De Levis. [Whose face, since his return, expresses a curious excitement] No, I don’t.

Inspector.  Very well, gentlemen.  In my opinion the thief walked in before the door was locked, probably during dinner; and was under the bed.  He escaped by dropping from the balcony—­the creeper at that corner [he points stage Left] has been violently wrenched.  I’ll go down now, and examine the grounds, and I’ll see you again Sir. [He makes another entry in his note-book] Goodnight, then, gentlemen!

Canynge.  Good-night!