The machine is choked up with shillings; a very foolish plan, so I always felt it to be." Mr.Sleuth spoke pettishly, with far more heat than he was wont to speak, but Mrs.Bunting sympathised with him in this matter.

She had always suspected that those slot machines were as dishonest as if they were human.

It was dreadful, the way they swallowed up the shillings! She had had one once, so she knew.
And as if he were divining her thoughts, Mr.Sleuth walked forward and stared at the stove.

"Then you haven't got a slot machine ?" he said wonderingly.

"I'm very glad of that, for I expect my experiment will take some time.