"We'll find out." "To-morrow. Not to-night." "Well, let's hear. What do you want?" "My share of the jewels." "Why didn't you take the lot, as you know where they are?" "Can't get at them by myself. There's a way of doing it, but I don't know it. You're here, so I'm making use of you." The Broker hesitated: "Share the jewels. . . . Share the jewels. . . . A few bits of glass and brass, most likely. . . ." "You fool! . . . There's more than a million's worth." The men quivered under the impression made upon them. "Very well," said the Broker. "But suppose the Kesselbach gets away? She's in the next room, isn't she?" "No, she's in here." Lupin for a moment pulled back one of the leaves of the screen, revealing the heap of dresses and bed-clothes which he had laid out on the sofa: "She's here, fainting. But I shan't give her up till we've divided." "Still . . ." "You can take it or leave it. I don't care if I am alone. You know what I'm good for. So please yourselves. . . ." The men consulted with one another and the Broker said: "Where is the hiding-place you're talking of?" "Under the fireplace. But, when you don't know the secret, you must first lift up the whole chimneypiece, looking-glass, marble and all in a lump, it seems. It's no easy job." "Pooh, we're a smart lot, we are! Just you wait and see. In five minutes . . ." He gave his orders and his pals at once set to work with admirable vigor and discipline. Two of them, standing on chairs, tried to lift the mirror. The four others attacked the fireplace itself. The Broker, on his knees, kept his eyes on the hearth and gave the word of command: "Cheerily, lads! . . . Altogether, if you please! . . . Look out! . . . One, two . . . ah, there, it's moving! . . ." Standing behind them, with his hands in his pockets, Lupin watched them affectionately and, at the same time, revelled with all his pride, as an artist and master, in this striking proof of his authority, of his might, of the incredible sway which he wielded over others. How could those scoundrels for a second accept that improbable story and lose all sense of things, to the point of relinquishing every chance of the fight in his favor? He took from his pockets two great massive and formidable revolvers and, calmly, choosing the first two men whom he would bring down and the two who would fall next, he aimed as he might have aimed at a pair of targets in a rifle-gallery. Two shots together and two more. . . . Loud yells of pain. . . . Four men came tumbling down, one after the other, like dolls at a cockshy. "Four from seven leaves three," said Lupin. "Shall I go on?" His arms remained outstretched, levelled at the Broker and his two pals. "You swine!" growled the Broker, feeling for a weapon. "Hands up," cried Lupin, "or I fire! . . . That's it. . . . Now, you two, take away his toys. . . . If not . . . !" The two scoundrels, shaking with fear, caught hold of their leader and compelled him to submit.