Mr. Galpin made a calculation on his dazzling cuff.
'In three-quarters of an hour the clock will have run out,' he informed
his audience, 'and you will be able to open any locks that you've got
keys for. I shall call to-morrow morning, young man, for the swag. And
don't you forget that there's only one Jack Galpin in the world. My
address is 205, the Waterloo Road.'
He left, with his bag.
Simon rushed to Vault 39 to encourage the captive by continual knocking.
Then the messenger-boy, who had been despatched to obtain food for the
prisoners behind the various grilles, came back with the desired food,
and with a copy of the _Evening Herald_. The back page of the _Herald_
bore Hugo's immense advertisement. The front page was also chiefly
devoted to Hugo. It displayed headings such as: 'Shocking Scenes at a
Sloane Street Sale,' 'Women Injured,' 'Customers Complain of Wholesale
Swindling,' 'Scandalous Mismanagement,' 'The Hugo Safe Deposit Suddenly
Closed,' 'Reported Disappearance of Mr. Hugo,' 'Is He a Lunatic?'
And when the three-quarters of an hour had expired Simon and the patrol
unlocked the massive portal of Vault 39, and swung it open, fearful of
what they might see within. And Hugo, pale and feeble, but alive,
staggered heavily forward, and put a hand on Simon's shoulder.
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