seals. It was possible, just possible, that they might
escape the notice of these thick-witted men about him.

"What does this mean?" he demanded; and then he
stopped, for there rose a distant sound of crying and
screaming in the quiet place.

"What is that?" he cried, startled.

The police inspector came forward; he cleared his
throat. "I'm sorry to tell you, Head" -- he spoke quite
civilly, even kindly -- "that we've had to arrest your
wife, too."

"This is too much! She is a child -- a mere child!
Innocent as a baby unborn. An Englishwoman, too,
as you know well, Mr. Watkins. They must be all
mad in this town -- it is quite mad to suspect my poor
little Polly!"

The inspector was a kindly man, naturally humane,
and he had known the prisoner for a considerable number
of years. As for poor Polly, he had always been
acquainted with her family, and had seen her grow up
from a lovely child into a very pretty girl.

"Look here!" he said. "It's no good kicking up a
row. Unluckily for her, they found the key with
which they opened your safe in her possession. D'you
take my meaning?"

Alfred Head grew rather white. "That's impossible!"
he said confidently. "There are but two keys,
and I have them both."

The other looked at him with a touch of pity.
"There must have been a third key," he said slowly.
"I've got it here myself. It was hidden away in an
old-fashioned dressing-case. Besides, Mrs. Head
didn't put up any fight. But if she can prove, as she
says, that she knows no German, and that you didn't

[[351]]

p350 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p351w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p352

v?