"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 007 - The Silent Seven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"Unprotected. But look at the clever construction of this drawer."

Cardona pressed the drawer inward. There was a sharp click. The detective jumped back instinctively.
Then he looked closely at the desk.

"Look at that!" he exclaimed. "It's cleverer than I thought! What happened to the drawer, anyway?"

The compartment had closed so perfectly that neither the inspector nor the detective could find its outline
in the woodwork.

"Neither Oscar nor Willis knew about this drawer," said Cardona. "I pushed it in before, but not all the
way.

"Now I've locked it. How in blazes are we going to open it?"

"We'll try later," said the inspector, dryly. "Anything more?"

"Yes," returned Cardona, turning away from the desk. "It was Willis who called the police. He and Oscar
believe that the house was entered twice during Marchand's absence.

"The first time, Oscar heard a noise downstairs. The second time, they discovered a man in this room.
The burglar escaped through an open window on the first floor. They gained no description of him.

"The second attempt caused them to summon Marchand home."

"Why?"

"Because the old man was very particular that no one should enter this room."
"Why?"

"We do not know, unless the answer is in the code message which we found in the drawer. I have traced
Marchand's career. It is above reproach. He had no enemies.

"He retired from the woolen business twenty years ago. Since then he had increased his wealth by
profitable investments.

"Willis is familiar with all of his financial affairs, and they were very simple."

"If there was nothing here," observed Klein, "why did the burglar enter?"

"Marchand is known to own some valuable jewelry'" said Cardona. "The gems were owned by his
deceased wife. They are not kept here. They are in a safe-deposit vault.

"My theory is that the burglar thought they were somewhere in this room, yet he didn't try the safe."

"Hm-m-m!" observed the inspector. "Maybe both times he was discovered before he had an opportunity
to make a thorough search."

"Still, I can see no connection between his attempts and the death of Marchand," said Cardona. "Willis
thought there might be a connection; but he has no theory. Nevertheless, he called in the police."