"'Tis they Brocks," whispered Kezia in terror of her life.
"'Tis somebody who knew Miss Sophy wur lying ill in bed."
Bessie took the lamp and went forth boldly, calling a challenge at every step. Presently Kezia plucked up courage to follow, and they went together into the parlour.
The musical box had disappeared: so had the pair of silver candlesticks, the Russian Ikon, and various other rich and rare antiquities.
"Oh, Kezia; ain't it awful in a Christian country!" exclaimed Bessie.
"Go vor policeman! No, don't ye--they may come back again."
Then Kezia's eyes fell upon the mummy, and she cried hysterically, "Thank heaven they ha' spared the King of Egypt!"
The constable, an exceedingly able man who was expecting to become a sergeant, gave it as his opinion that a thief had been at work. In support of this theory he pointed out certain prints of hob-nailed boots, which upon examination he discovered to be his own. Thereupon he increased his reputation by a shake of the head, and the statement that, even in a small community, mysteries were bound to happen.
Kezia began to mutter about Sidney Brock, who had eaten and drunk in her kitchen, and had endeavoured to entice Nellie into his harem; while Bessie had the effrontery to suggest she had seen two dark shadows, unquestionably substantial, disappearing along the lane in the direction of Black Anchor.
"You can get to London by that road," replied the policeman. "Were they walking or running?" he inquired.
"When I last saw 'em they was running fit to break their necks," said Bessie.
The constable twirled his moustache and smiled in a superior fashion; for he was about to make a point.
"Running with a musical box pretty near the size of a piano, not to mention other articles of furniture," he said.
"The box wur big, but not very heavy," explained Kezia. "It stood upon legs, four of 'em, but a man could lift it off and carry it."
"And the legs would follow after?" suggested the policeman, who believed in making people laugh; but he failed on this occasion.
"They would have to walk back for the legs," Kezia explained.
"Two, but I wouldn't swear to nothing," replied the tactful Bessie.
"If policeman wur to go along the lane he might catch up wi' them," suggested Kezia.